Sports Medicine Podiatrist Treating Athletic Foot & Ankle Injuries

Treating Athletic Foot Injuries

Your feet are responsible for carrying the entire weight of your body everywhere you go. Athlete’s feet are under even more strain because of the force applied to each step. They may sometimes carry as much as 20 times their body weight. Typically, injury occurs from trauma, but other causes include not warming up properly, overuse, extreme workouts, wearing the wrong shoes, and playing on hard surfaces.

Some of the most commonly seen injuries are sesamoiditis, tendonitis, turf toe, Morton’s neuroma, stress fractures, and—in children—Sever’s Disease. Various treatments for these injuries could include conservative methods, such as wearing an orthotic or undergoing physical therapy, and range all the way up to more invasive remedies, such as electroshock wave therapy or even surgery. Sometimes bracing or taping the feet can help avoid an injury.

Those with Diabetes can have an Active Lifestyle too

People with diabetes and people who are athletes do not have to be two separate groups. Many athletes have diabetes; there are just a few things to keep in mind. First of all, it is still important to care for your feet daily, even more so since you have the added stress on them. You should check your feet for wounds and keep them as clean as possible. Secondly, the type of injury most specific to diabetic feet is ulcer formation. Ulcers can form due to a number of reasons, including lack of feeling, poor circulation, irritation, and trauma. Limiting the amount of pressure and irritation on your feet is one of the best ways to prevent an ulcer.

Shoes for Athletes

One of the most important aspects of having active feet is wearing the proper footwear. Athletic shoes are not all the same, and one type may not work for everyone. Getting the right shoe can mean the difference between comfort and injury. Some of the things to consider when choosing the right shoe are: Does it offer arch support? Does it fit well both in width and length? Does it fit the shape of your foot? Does it offer stability, and does it work in form as well as function? Each person’s feet are unique, and each will answer these questions differently and choose a pair of shoes accordingly.

A Doctor’s Care

Being under the care of a podiatrist means you get all of the insider knowledge about how to care for your feet under any circumstance. Whether you have diabetic feet, athletic feet—or both, you get the expertise of someone who knows exactly what they are dealing with. If you would like some more information about how to care for your feet, or if you are suffering from a foot condition caused by sports injury, call Dr. Mitchell Wachtel today at (978) 794-8406 or schedule an appointment online. When you come into one of our offices in North Andover, Haverhill, and Lowell, you are getting the best podiatric care possible.