The men and women’s US gymnastics teams are suffering from foot
injuries. Both McKayla Maroney and Sam Mikulak are struggling with sore feet as
they get ready to go into the Olympics in the upcoming week. McKayla Maroney is
struggling with a sore right foot and Sam Mikulak sprained his left ankle
during a vault on the first day of the Olympic trials.
Foot injuries are easy to come by in gymnastics due to all
of the high impact landing that the gymnasts do throughout their routines. The
force of their entire body is increased several times when they land on their
feet due to the momentum that they have gained leading up to their handsprings
and dismounts. The impact can lead to fractured bones, twisted ankles and a
wide array of other complications. These injuries can make it very painful to
impossible to compete.
The Olympics is an impressive event that show cases the best
athletic talent there is throughout the world. Many times we can recall an
injury that completely changed an athlete’s Olympic outlook. The injuries that
these athletes get can be very similar to the ones that we get in our daily routine.
A wrong step can result in a sprained ankle, just as easily as a long day on
flat feet can lead to a great amount of pain and discomfort.
Many times the injuries or the pain that we suffer on a day
to day basis is due to our foot type. There exists this theoretical perfect
foot type that very few people actually possess and then there is the rest of
us. Most of us have some degree of flattening of our foot or increased arch of
our foot or some other foot abnormality that causes us to be prone to certain
injuries. Now, for many of us, this may not bother us until we start to age,
but when are feet begin to hurt, the excuse of I’m just old is not a very good
one to live by.
Orthoses are inserts that fit into your shoe and they
function to help to position your foot into the ideal position that allows for
the best positioning of your foot for walking. By putting your foot into this
position, you are decreasing the amount of other work your foot has to do to be
able to walk. As a result, you will decrease or even eliminate the pain your
foot is feeling.
If you or someone you know lives in the Methuen, North
Andover, Tewksbury or Boston, Massachusetts area our office staff would be more
than happy to help you schedule an appointment. Dr. Wachtel will be able to
examine your foot and determine the best treatment for your individual foot
type.
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