Protect Your Feet and Ankles When Taking up a New Sport

Can you name all 46 sports that make up the 2020 Summer Olympics? The Games provide plenty of excitement for the athletes who’ve dreamed of participating in them for years. Unfortunately, they also offer plenty of opportunities for sports injuries.
Many young kids who’ll watch the Olympics from July 23-August 8 will get excited to try out a new sport. When kids are just starting, they and their parents should know something about the risks of injury to their feet and ankles – and how to prevent them. Some of the most popular sports at the Summer Olympics include:
When starting any of these sports, kids should follow these three important rules to help protect their feet and ankles:
- Get the right shoes. Scientists, engineers, and doctors design athletic shoes with precise movements in mind that are particular to each sport. Sprinting down the track requires one type of support. Criss-crossing a tennis court requires quite another. Investing in the proper shoes is the best way to protect your feet and ankles.
- Don’t overtrain. Doing too much too soon is the fastest path to overuse injuries. Start slowly and build up your speed and distance gradually.
- Stretch before playing. You can minimize injuries such as ankle sprains, Achilles tendinitis, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis with 15 minutes of stretching before beginning any exercise.
Before engaging in any new exercise, contact our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann. They can perform a complete foot and ankle exam to detect and correct any problems that may get worse with exercise. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.