What kind of person do you consider yourself when it comes to physical activity? Maybe you’re someone who never misses a day at the gym – or maybe you can’t remember the last time you set foot in a gym. You might be someone who plays football with his buddies on the weekend – or can’t tell the difference between a touchdown and a tackle. You could be one of those people who has a natural talent for rollerblading, the body type for century long bike rides, or runs marathons for fun. Whatever your physical activity of choice may be, they all come with potential foot and ankle problems. Knowing which category you fit into best can help you take preventative measures to avoid risks, chronic ankle and foot pain, and be aware of the issues to look out for.
Posted by: London Foot and Ankle Centre
Are You a Weekend Warrior or Ball Sports Enthusiast?
The New Year’s resolution enthusiast
Who?
All age groups, sometimes with poor baseline fitness levels. The main risk factor for this group derives from a sudden increase in activity without adequate preparation or technique.
Risks
Stress fractures are the main problem when there is a sudden increase in activity. These ‘hairline’ fractures are caused by a series of loading and unloading cycles that weaken the bone, precipitating a break.
Bear in mind
Indications of a likely stress fracture are pain which persists for more than 72 hours, swelling which persists for more than 24 hours, pain which increases with activity and weight-bearing and also pain which is present at rest.
The weekend warrior
Who?
Commonly aged 30–60, combining professional jobs with intense endurance training at the weekend. Main risk is overuse injuries; they are reluctant to rest and very likely to keep training despite pain.
Risks
This group will commonly run 20 to 40 miles each week, so there is a major risk of tendon over use injury (tendinopathy). Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis are very common problems for this group.
Bear in mind
Tendinopathy is degenerative, not inflammatory, so is unlikely to respond to anti-inflammatory medication. Specialist extracorporeal shockwave therapy is now established as an effective treatment.
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One things that’s for certain is that foot pain doesn’t care who you are! Whether you’re an Olympian who constantly trains or an average Joe just trying to stay healthy, you may at some point experience foot pain or ankle problems. When you do, consider contacting a New York podiatrist at Adler Footcare. We believe feet shouldn’t hurt and neither should their treatment.
Do you have foot problems causing you pain? Find out by downloading the free guide below.
