28 Jul Fall Sports and Foot Care

Fall Sports and Foot Care

Fall for Foot Care

Fall means football. It’s also soccer season, the start of hockey season and the time of year when the crisp, cool weather is perfect for cross-country running, hiking and other outdoor sports.

If you’re an avid exerciser, here are some tips to keep you from a seasonal slump when the weather turns.

Prevention is Key

Many sports injuries are caused by:

• not warming up enough before exercise
• overuse of muscles
• improperly fitted shoes

To prevent most injuries, always warm up carefully and work up gradually to a strenuous routine. If you’re doing resistance exercise, wait 24 hours between sessions of working the same muscle. And make sure your shoes aren’t giving you grief; custom-made orthotics can make them fit your feet properly and avoid problems.

Let’s take a look at some of the common enemies you’ll face on the field.

Turf Toe

This painful condition is caused by overstraining the ligaments that surround the big toe. It is common in football and soccer players. It can also affect dancers and gymnasts. Despite its name, turf toe can also happen to athletes who play on grass fields.

The primary treatment for turf toe is to immobilize the toe and rest it. A podiatrist may prescribe a walking boot or even crutches to keep any weight or strain off the toe. It usually takes about two to three weeks of rest, followed by physical therapy, for a full recovery.

Blisters

To prevent them, wear well-fitting shoes and socks that don’t allow your foot to slide around. You can also try taping or bandaging the areas where you are prone to developing blisters; some athletes even use duct tape.

Blisters are not dangerous but large ones carry the risk of infection. You can drain them yourself but the safest option is to have a foot care professional perform blister care in a sterile setting.

What a Heel

If your first steps in the morning are painful, that could be an early warning sign of plantar fasciitis, a strain of the plantar fascia ligament. Left untreated, this condition will cause a lump or “spur” of bone to form on the bottom of your heel.

Many athletes are prone to heel pain, and heel spurs are a common culprit. If you have symptoms of heel pain, consult a podiatrist. The condition can usually be treated by a combination of rest, splints and a custom orthotic.

Fungus Among Us

Athlete’s foot and fungal nails may not be life-threatening, but they’re unsightly and sometimes painful.

Athlete’s foot or tinea pedis is a common condition cause by a virus that enters through a break in the skin. While some types of athlete’s foot can be treated with over-the-counter ointments, others can’t, so it’s important to have a foot care professional diagnose what type you have. More serious cases will require a podiatrist’s prescription.

In some cases, the fungal infection can spread to the toenails, leading to what doctors call onychomycosis and we call “ugly fungal toenail.” This is much harder to treat than athlete’s foot and will almost always require a podiatrist’s diagnosis, treatment and prescriptions.

Get Ready Now!

At Shuman Podiatry, we know you don’t want to be sidelined by foot problems this fall. Dr. Shuman is an expert in sports medicine who will help you correct everything from those ugly yellow toes to serious sprains and strains. Call us today and let your feet enjoy a full season of fun.

About: Dr Shuman provides podiatry services in Sterling, Ashburn, Lansdowne and Leesburg Va.  Shuman Podiatry offers: custom orthotics, diabetic foot care, heel pain and spurs, wart removal and more.  Contact Dr Shuman today for all your foot care needs.