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5 Ways Athletes Can Benefit from Seeing a Podiatrist

Apr 10, 2023
If you're an athlete, your feet may be the last thing on your mind. However, foot injuries happen often and can leave you benched for the season. Keep reading to discover the benefits of seeing a podiatrist before your athletic season.

Being an athlete is a great way to stay in shape, have fun, and stay out of trouble. However, you can have game-changing injuries, especially regarding your feet, if you need to be more careful.

At Toe-Tal Foot and Ankle Care, our team is here to help you succeed in any way possible. Dr. Daniel Cairns is our podiatry specialist who offers sports medicine in foot care to ensure your ankles and feet stay healthy and uninjured on and off the field.

Foot injuries in athletes

You need to keep your body in shape to perform at your peak level as an athlete. Whether playing basketball, soccer, or tennis, appropriate conditioning is the best way to play well and prevent injury.

Though building muscle and improving your cardio are great ways to prepare your body for a game, your feet are also essential to success. You often overlook them, even though you spend all day on them.

Foot and ankle injuries are common, especially in contact sports. However, any sport can put intense pressure on your feet, leading to injuries, such as:

Taking care of your feet is essential when you're an athlete. Your athletic routine should include choosing the right shoes, checking your feet for injuries, and practicing proper foot mechanics to prevent injury.

Benefits of seeing a podiatrist

As an athlete, seeing a podiatrist should be on your list. Because you spend so much time on your feet, you must give them the care they need to keep you in the game.

There are many benefits to seeing a podiatrist when you're an athlete. Five of these benefits include:

1. Helps performance improvement

The biomechanics of your feet and legs play a huge role in how you perform at your sport. Dr. Cairns evaluates your foot posture, performs a gait analysis, and assesses your range of motion to help you improve your performance while preventing injury.

Even slight variations in your biomechanics can lead to early muscle fatigue and impaired performance on the field.

2. Addresses your risk of injury

You put a lot of stress on your legs and feet during many sporting events. Dr. Cairns helps you understand the specific issues you face with your feet and ankles.

He uses your body mechanics and tools like orthotics and specially designed exercise programs to strengthen the muscles around your feet and ankles. He addresses any risk factors that make you more prone to specific injuries.

3. Provides an evaluation of your foot health

Although it may seem minor, the skin on your feet and nails is essential to your performance. Your feet get hit the hardest when you endure grueling workouts and practices.

When you see Dr. Cairns, he takes the time to evaluate the skin on your feet and your nail health. Corns, calluses, fungal infections, and hammertoes are just a few problems you can experience as an athlete.

Dr. Cairns offers you specialized treatment and prevention tips to help you be successful at your sport without sacrificing the health of your feet.

4. Helps you deal with pain

If you have a foot injury, a podiatrist is the best option to help you feel better and get back on the field. Dr. Cairns provides a quick and efficient evaluation of your injury and specialized treatments tailored to your athletic performance.

He provides the tools you need, like physical therapy or a customized exercise plan to help you heal quickly and perform just as well on the field as before you got hurt.

5. Offers proper shoe fitting and advice

Your shoes play a significant role in your success as an athlete. Dr. Cairns helps you determine the best traits in a performance shoe to keep you both comfortable and efficient during the game.

Worn-out or improperly fitted shoes can lead to more than sore feet. They can cause issues with your step and lead to injuries without the proper arch support.

Dr. Cairns is also an expert in all things that involve your feet. He can advise you on proper foot mechanics and other tips that keep you in the game and off the disabled list because of injuries.

Call our Toe-Tal Foot and Ankle Care team today at 817-518-7348 to make an appointment with Dr. Cairns for a sports evaluation, or book a consultation online.