Ankle Issues? Why You Need to Take Extra Care of Your Foot

Have you suffered from an ankle (tarsus) injury and you just don’t feel as stable on your feet as you used to? Maybe you just prefer extra support because it helps you feel more stable. Did you know that more than 1 million people each year injure their ankles in some way – whether it is a sprain, strain, or a fracture?  

The majority of ankle injuries occur while walking on uneven ground or while playing sports or running. Most of these injuries can be prevented by properly supporting your ankles and wearing appropriate shoes to protect yourself for whatever activity you may be doing.

Our feet are so important, and protecting them should be important as well. Our feet carry us everywhere we need to go. They provide us constant support and they carry our weight. Our ankles and feet can sustain a lot, but if turned or twisted just right, they are easily injured.

The Basics

Protecting your feet and tarsus really can be very basic. There are braces and splints that you can use for extra stabilization if you are prone to injuries, but you can also take some simple precautions that will help prevent injury and protect you from having issues. To find shoes with ankle support visit sportsly.net

The most basic precautions you can take for supporting your ankles are saying no to the wrong shoes. Wearing ones with spiked heels are obviously a shoe that offers no support or stability. One misstep is all it would take to sustain an injury. This doesn’t mean you can’t wear heels, but a more practical approach could prevent injury. Another shoe choice that is not recommended are simple flats. These shoes have no arch support, which puts extra pressure on your ankles and can lead to arthritis or weakening.

Choose a practical, comfortable shoe that offers plenty of support and comfort. For additional support, you can purchase shoe inserts from Protalus in order to provide extra stabilization and help prevent an injury.

You can also make your best efforts to avoid the uneven ground. When walking, choose solid, even ground as much as possible. If you are going to be hiking or walking a rougher terrain, protect yourself with supportive, stable footwear like tall hiking boots, high-top tennis shoes, or fully laced ones.

The Sports Side

Incidentally, anyone can be prone to tarsus injuries. They are especially common in sports, especially high impact sports. An injury can put a player out of the game for a full season. For example, football players routinely miss one or more weeks after suffering a tarsus injury. Some injuries cause pain even years after the injury has healed.  

Many sports injuries can be prevented with the right shoe that provides great support. One of the most common solutions for appropriate support in sport’s shoes is high top tennis shoes. High tops stabilize, offering support that can prevent rolling the tarsus in a way that could cause injury. There are also shoes that Velcro around the tarsus area, holding the shoe tighter to your legs for a more stable fit.

6 Ways You Can Prevent Ankle Issues

1. Wear ankle-supportive footwear. Sturdy boots and high-top tennis shoes are ideal. When wearing heels, opt for a shorter heel that is wide or has a wedge. Be sure to choose one that offers sturdy insoles and supportive padding. A good insert will do a lot to prevent shock to your bones and joints as well.

2. Invest in a brace, especially for sports. A good brace when playing hard or joining high impact supports could provide the added stabilization you need to prevent injuries during play. The more sturdy the brace, the better support it will offer.

3. Lace your shoes all the way to the top hole. Many tennis shoes have those holes that are at the very top at an angle. They sit farther back at the top of the shoe. A great way to stabilize and support your ankles is to fully lace your footwear and tie them tightly as well.

4. Strengthen your ankles. You can strengthen your muscles and joints by exercising with resistance bands, as well as working your toes and feet in motions. Try performing tarsus circles when you’re just sitting or even flexing and un-flexing your full foot. These moves can add strength to the area and they are simple to do. Another tip is to not cross your feet at your tarsus as this puts abnormal pressure and additional stress on your joints.

5. If you have suffered from a previous injury or feel weakness, take proper care. Ice the ankle and let it rest and heal.

6. Invest in quality inserts. Inserts provide additional comfort in the form of shock absorption. Another great quality of inserts is their ability to stabilize and relieve pressure from problem areas. The added stability an insert can provide helps to strengthen the ankle and prevent further injury.

In conclusion, tarsus injuries are very common but the right care could prevent you from suffering an injury yourself. Once you experience this type of injury, you may deal with stability or pain issues for the rest of your life. Even though the injury heals, it does not mean there won’t be lasting effects.

Caring for your feet and ankles is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself. Remember that your feet offer you total support, they carry you where you need to go and they take a lot of weight. Give your body the credit and care it deserves so it can continue doing their jobs. Take care of your feet so they can take care of you!