Prevent Foot & Ankle Injuries through Targeted Exercises

/
7409657_S_feet_woman_band_stretching_yoga_exercising (1).jpg

The world came to a standstill at the news of Kobe Bryant’s death in a plane crash on January 26. Shortly after the tragic accident, one story among the countless articles recapping Bryant’s outstanding NBA career stood out for us here at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center. Kobe Bryant, according to Dance Magazine, attempted to avoid sports injuries to his feet by learning to tap dance.

Ankle injuries abound in the sport of basketball, and Bryant was no exception, having sustained at least four ankle sprains over his career. Tap dancing was a way for him to focus on a vulnerable part of his body to:

  • improve joint flexibility

  • increase range of motion

  • strengthen muscles

  • fine-tune the complex relationship between ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bones in order to move well

  • develop endurance

Our podiatrists, Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka, stand behind any activity that strengthens our patient’s feet and ankles. But you don’t have to take up tap dancing to accomplish this. You can build foot and ankle exercises such as these into your daily routine:

  • Walk: you exercise your entire lower limbs with every step.

  • Use resistance: there are various ways to wrap an exercise band around your feet; point or flex them to strengthen your ankles.

  • Flex your muscles: pick up a towel or a small object such as a marble with your toes; point your toes and “write” the alphabet in the air.

Foot and ankle exercises can help prevent injury for athletes and non-athletes alike. However, all the preparation in the world can’t stop every accident. When you injure your foot or ankle, you can count on the expertise of our entire staff. Our on-site physical therapist can even show you the correct way to perform foot and ankle exercises. Visit our podiatry offices in Howell or Jackson (Monmouth County), New Jersey. You can contact us online or call (732) 905-1110 for an appointment.