Your ankles have to handle the complete weight of your body when you’re on your feet and active, while still giving you the flexibility you need to maintain the full range of motion. That’s a big task!
To protect your ankles from injury or degeneration, it’s an important part of your sports or activity preparedness to know how to properly support your ankles when you’re on the move.
At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Michael L. Blackwell and his team of orthopedics and sports medicine experts can help you put together the right preparedness plan to keep your ankles happy and healthy.
You can consult with Dr. Blackwell and his team at their convenient offices located in Tomball, Kingwood, and The Woodlands, Texas. Here’s more on what you need to know about maintaining ankle health, flexibility, and strength, now and in the future.
Your feet and ankles contain delicate bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and multiple muscles. Without the right attention to foot and ankle support, you can stress or tear the tendons, ligaments, and muscles in your feet and ankles, or even fracture bones.
The most common sports injuries that Dr. Blackwell sees when it comes to ankles are strains and sprains. If you twist or bend your ankle too far, your tendons or ligaments are stressed or torn, causing pain and debility. Sprains need to heal fully, or you risk reinjury down the road.
If you suffer from a sports injury, Dr. Blackwell can help you make a full recovery. The right prevention steps can lower your risks of suffering an ankle injury and setting back your training while you recover.
It’s essential to choose the right footwear for your activity or sport as a key way to support your ankles. You might benefit from an athletic shoe with ankle supports. Talk to Dr. Blackwell about the right shoes for you and your competition and training needs.
Further, make sure your shoes are in good shape — worn-out shoes lose their full ability to support and cushion your feet and ankles. Replace your athletic shoes at least once a year, or once you start to see visible signs of wear on the soles.
If you play sports like basketball that involve a lot of twisting and jumping, especially risky for your ankles, ankle bracing or taping is another way to give your ankles some added support.
The approach you take to your activity matters, as well. Targeted exercise programs can strengthen the muscles in your legs and feet that support your ankles, reducing your risk of falling.
Stretching well before getting active gives your tendons, ligaments, and muscles a chance to warm up and loosen, reducing your risk of injury.
To learn more about supporting your ankles when you’re practicing, working out, and competing, contact Dr. Blackwell at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine today. Call to schedule, or request an appointment online.
