Words of Wisdom: Let it Heal

If there’s one thing athletes can’t stand, it’s being forced to sit out of practice or competition because they are injured. It happens in pro sports all the time. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins recently had to take six weeks off because of a foot injury.

Of course, it happens to amateur athletes, too. An injury can be a result of overtraining - too much of a good thing can cause strains, sprains, and ruptures. An injury can be a basic accident - a tackle gone wrong or an unintended crash landing. Or, it can be just a fluke. Think about the runner who finishes her 8-mile training session with ease only to take a misstep on her front porch and sprain her ankle.

What’s an injured athlete to do?! Well, the board-certified podiatrists at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center have this basic recommendation for anyone who suffers from sports injuries: let it heal.

How to recover from an injury

1.       Listen to the doctor. A pro athlete might tape his foot heavily and practice before an injury is fully healed. But it’s not the best course of action, by far. Our expert advice might be to wear a brace, take medication, ice your injury 20 minutes on/20 minutes off, stay off your feet for three weeks, and see our physical therapist. For the best possible outcome, that’s what you should do.

2.       Ease back in. Start your exercise routine when we give you the green light. Stop if it hurts. Nobody likes to be out of commission for long and it’s tempting to try to push through any pain. But you can aggravate your injury and risk a setback if you do too much too soon.

Change what you can to avoid a repeat

Did your injury happen because your orthotic inserts are old and worn out? Get new ones. Are you running on an uneven surface? Change your route. Do you have a foot problem that contributed to your injury? Make an appointment with Monmouth County podiatrists Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka to get it fixed.

Visit us in Howell or Jackson, New Jersey, for quality treatment of sports injuries and all other ailments of the foot and ankle. Call us at (732) 905-1110 or make an appointment online.