The beautiful summer weather is in full effect. People everywhere are getting outdoors to enjoy all the fun the shining sun has to offer. However, all this extra activity can put a lot of strain and stress on your feet and ankles, sprains all too common during this time of year. Don’t worry though, we’ll go over everything you need to know to make sure you get the most out of this beautiful season.

WHAT IS AN ANKLE SPRAIN?

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries during the summer. It’s especially prevalent in runners and other sports enthusiasts. An ankle sprain is usually a result of the muscles and tendons stretched beyond their capacity. However, an ankle sprain can also be a result of chronic ankle tendonitis, which can weaken the tendons and make them prone to injury.

HOW TO AVOID AN ANKLE SPRAIN?

There are a few things you can do to minimize the chances of incurring a sprain in the first place:

1) Wear properly fitted shoes. Always choose the right footwear for the activity. For example, different sports require different types of footwear. Running shoes are not appropriate for playing tennis since a shoe with proper lateral support for short stops and starts is required for tennis.

2)  Start any new exercise program or sports activity slowly. Many foot and ankle injuries occur when people start a new exercise program too aggressively. Always start carefully, and slowly increase the intensity of your workout or activity as you build up strength and flexibility.

3) Try stretching exercises. Always make sure to do a proper warm-up and cool down. Start by stretching your ankles and calf muscles. One good ankle strengthening exercise is to wrap a towel around your foot and rotate your ankle against the resistance.

As always contact a specialist if your ankle is experiencing any discomfort or pain.

You can count on the Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC foot doctors to provide care for your feet using a full range of conservative and surgical therapies. Our expert team, including board-certified podiatrists Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, and Dr. Christine I. Tumele, serve patients of all ages with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies, including on-site digital x-ray, and ultrasound, diabetic shoes, and digital scanning for custom orthotics.