It’s February and with people returning to normal schedules after the holiday period, so does the return to regular sporting and exercise activities. Now is the time that we also start to see an increase in the number of sporting injuries presenting to our clinic.
So why would we see an increase in sporting injuries when people should be feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after the summer holidays?

There are a few reasons for this is

– Return to sport after a period of downtime – the body becomes deconditioned during inactivity and is more prone to injury.
– Enthusiasm about getting fit for the new year- boundaries are pushed, and training load increases too rapidly.
– A new program of sport for school children, with new sports, to try and participate in – sports injuries are more frequent in those still learning the sports and developing skills.

Over the next month the summer sports will wrap up and the winter sports seasons will start. Quite often there is a month of overlap as the pre-season training coincides with finals.
In our Podiatry practice the most frequently encountered injuries come from sports that involve a lot of running and jumping, namely athletics, football, soccer, netball, and basketball. These sports use repetitive movements and actions that place the most demand and load on the feet and legs.
Sporting injuries occur when the body experiences a sudden excessive force (pressure, twist, shear, shock, compression) beyond its capacity to accommodate that force. Something needs to give, and that will be the bone, muscle or the ligament bearing the load of the force. Injuries result from external forces (such as collision between players, trip or wrong footwear choice), while others can be the result of internal factors (poor balance, muscle weakness, stiffness, and biomechanics).
When an athlete has injured their leg or foot, the process of healing and rehab with the aim of a safe return to sport begins. Podiatrists assess an injury and help with the recovery and rehabilitation. Biomechanics and gait are important in identifying areas that are contributing risk factors. At Podicare we use moon boots, braces, strapping, orthotics, footwear recommendations and exercise programs to as part of a comprehensive “return to play” treatment plan.
To find out more about sporting injuries of the feet and legs make an appointment with one of the Podicare podiatrists on 9295 3471 or book online