This month, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition is challenging you to be active 150 minutes each week—that’s 30 minutes a day, 5 out 7 days a week. Are you ready? At Foot & Ankle Specialists PC our concern, of course, is making sure your feet are ready. Here are a few  “game changers” to consider:

1. Warm Up with a Check Up—before starting any new fitness program, it’s recommended that you consult your physician. Our podiatrists, Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, Dr. Christine I. Tumele, and Dr. Matthew W.E. Lewin think it’s a good idea to talk to your podiatrist as well. If you have had previous injuries you may be more susceptible to re-injury, certain overuse injuries or other conditions that you can take steps to prevent. Now is also the time to determine if you have flat feet, overpronation or other mechanical foot abnormalities that could lead to pain down the road. Specific shoe recommendations or orthotic inserts for your shoes can help eliminate potential problems.
2. Get Geared Up—for podiatrists, the most important piece of equipment you will use for whatever sport you play is your footwear. Choose shoes that are designed for the activity you plan to do and consider having a sports shoe professional fit you.
3. Stretch Before You Start—any sound fitness plan will include stretches before and after exercise. Your risk for problems like Plantar Fasciitis, for example, can be greatly reduced if you know how to properly stretch muscles, tendons and ligaments to help prevent sports injuries.
4. Slow and Steady Wins the Race—pick a sound program that starts out slowly and gradually increases speed and duration of your exercise routine. The number one cause of Achilles tendonitis is doing too much too soon or after an extended period of inactivity. Any program that promises results in record time is too good to be true and bad enough to harm your feet and ankles.
5. Get Gain without Pain—despite the popular sports slogan, pain is never okay when it comes to your toes, feet or ankles. If it hurts, stop and rest. If the pain doesn’t go away, make an appointment at our Monroe or Lambertville office by calling 734-241-0200 or 734-856-8900.

Remember, your podiatrist in on your team and wants your new fitness routine to be a win for you and your feet.