Sports Podiatrist

Sports Podiatry is the medical field that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of the lower legs and feet, in those individuals who are active in sports . A sports Podiatrist is not only a foot doctor who is familiar with sports injuries, but is a professional who is trained to deal with athletes and the problems associated with sports injuries.

As implied by its name, a sports podiatrists will work with individuals who engage in professional or recreational sports. Sports podiatrists are also used as a means of training and preventing any injury of the feet. Sports podiatrists can also help individuals who injure their legs or feet on a regular basis, working to prevent further issues through stretching and warm up exercises.

Upon a patients first visit, a sports podiatrist can analyses their patients simply by the way they walk. For this purpose, a gait scanner may also be used by the doctor, which is a pressure sensitive pad that examines the connection of an individual's feet with the ground, the shift of pressure as they move, and where they place the pressure when they land.

Additionally, along with the use of a gait scanner, a podiatrist analyses the individual's walk visually, and checks the flow of motion. This means the doctor can analyze the way an individual uses their energy to walk, which flows all through their body. This analysis helps podiatrist to detect the improper movements, which could be the outcome of any underlying issues.

Once the problem is identified, the podiatrist prescribes a detailed treatment plan in order to take steps in the direction of a cure. Muscle strengthening, stretching and weight training are a few suggestions the podiatrist will make, in addition to specialized sports shoes or orthotic inserts, to correct the movement or positioning they may have developed.

The Role of Podiatry in the treatment of Athletes

A sports podiatrist is usually suggested for all professional athletes in order to prevent, and treat the injuries caused by sports activities. However, the treatment of foot injuries and limb injuries caused by sports, comprises of assessment and treatment of movement and posture, and also includes the analysis activity, or simply bio mechanical analysis. Bio mechanics is simply the study of the laws of movement in living beings.

Nevertheless, injuries caused through bio mechanical variants include bunions, painful corns, shin splints, and more. Most are cured by the evaluation of sports shoes, and possibly a orthotic fitting. A sports podiatrist can examine the bio mechanics of an athlete to identify the degree of the issue, and give treatment to restore the natural posture of the foot. Overuse injuries which involve nails and skin, also benefit from the treatment of podiatrists. While in some cases they have to perform minor surgeries when the issue is big, such as ingrown nails. Also, some of the injuries are cured by remedial exercise regimes and sports massage therapy. The following categories are some of the top injuries caused by playing sports.

Ankle sprain

Reason: The cause of this injury is usually related to the stretching of ligaments in the ankle, usually brought on by rolling the foot inward, which may cause the muscles supporting the joint of the ankle to overextend and stretch, occasionally to the point of tearing.

Cure: Most Sports Podiatrist like to go with the simple R.I.C.E. treatment plan. This is an acronym for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Also ibuprofen is a big help, as it relieves pain and helps to reduce inflammation.

Achilles tendinitis

Reason: The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, stretching from your heel bones up to your calf muscles. Achilles tendinitis usually occurs due to a sudden increase of a repetitive activity involving the Achilles tendon. There are many degrees of Achilles injuries and the range from irratation and swelling to a full rupture.

Cure: In most cases, Achilles tendinitis reacts well to R.I.C.E, rest ice, compression, and elevation. Stretching exercises prescribed by your podiatrist and ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation. The sports podiatrist may offer stretching exercises to strengthen the tendon. .

Prevention: Reducing physical activity can also prevent the risk of damage or re damage to the Achilles tendon.

Sports Medicines

Sports medicines, deals in the physical fitness of athletes prevention and treatment of the injuries caused by sports or exercise. The main purpose of sports medicine is to support people involved in exercise effectively and safely so as to achieve the goals of training.

Sports medicine is the combination of science, orthopedics, exercise physiology, sports nutrition, bio mechanics, and sports psychology.

A team of sports medicine specialist may include non-medical and medical specialists, including surgeons, physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, sports psychologists, nutritionists, personal trainers, and coaches.

Sports Medicine Specialists

A sports medicine specialist, for example, a sports podiatrist, is instrumental in the preventative and healing aspects of today's pro athletes, as well as the weekend warrior. He is a part of a team of professionals dedicated to keeping the sport's participant in the game.

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