Sports Medicine Podiatrist Advanced Injury Care

Have you suffered a foot or ankle injury working out or playing sports? Maybe you are in love with running, being active and doing all kinds of sports?

Whether the case, the sports medicine podiatrist can really change the way you exercise, improve your performance and prevent injuries!

Sports medicine podiatrists take care of foot and ankle problems related to sports as well as treatments such as massage joint mobilization, point therapy, exercise, prescription of footwear for athletes, as well as those who have injuries in their everyday life.

There are many sports activities that involve running, jumping, walking or standing which place a great demand on your feet and ankles. Injuries to the foot and/or ankle are the most common among athletes.

This is when the podiatrist comes in to examine the problem and prescribe the proper treatment(s). These doctors have knowledge of biomechanics of athletic movements and can diagnose all foot conditions as well as help develop healthy training regimens, prescribe proper footwear, and, when necessary, orthotic devices. The most common sporting injuries are heel pain, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, and knee pain.

There are many factors that can cause an injury. The most important one is how your foot and leg moves during exercise.

When to see a podiatrist

You should see a foot doctor as soon as you can if you suffered a foot or ankle injury. If you have repeated limb injuries, they can be caused by an imbalance in your body. Sports medicine podiatrists are also essential for athletes who try to avoid injury, recover in the shortest periods of time, and maximize their performance. An experienced podiatrist that specializes in sports medicine will have the experience to properly diagnose your condition(s) and recommend the best course of treatment(s) to help you get back on the field as quickly as possible.

Sports podiatrists can diagnose and manage foot and leg disorders by focusing on injuries associated with foot function.

Sports podiatry involves:

• Video gait analysis that helps asses the movement patterns of lower limbs
• Movement analysis to detect and prevent risk factors for injury
• Evaluation of footwear
• Joint mobilizations
• Provision of foot orthoses
• Injury diagnosis
• Prescription of proper treatments
• Recommendations after treatments
• Referral to other specialists when necessary

What treatments can be prescribed?

Each individual requires different treatments depending on the problem and the level of damage. In general, treatments may include braces, strapping, massage, trigger point therapy, changes in training regimen and so on.

The highly trained podiatrists at The Beltsville Foot And Ankle Center can provide running or walking assessments to investigate the function of your feet and legs, which may also include specialized gait analysis. They will also examine the mechanical causes of your pain, and may also prescribe proper straightening or stretching training programs to prevent further injuries.

A specialist will also help you with your running shoes, or other footwear you have. For example, and average athletic shoes should last between 300 and 500 miles (this number can change depending on your weight and surface you’re running on). You need to replace your shoes when the midsole become compressed and cannot properly absorb the impact.

Here’s Your Next Step…

A sports podiatrist can prescribe specific tests to determine whether your feet stability is healthy and sufficient for performing in your sport of choice. With that being said, if you are in the Maryland, D.C., Northern Virginia metro area and need a sports medicine podiatrist give us a call today at 301-937-5666 or click on the appointment request button above.