Parents of Athletes

Common Injuries:

• Ingrown Toenails
• Athlete’s Foot
• Tendon Injuries
• Ankle Sprains

Ingrown Toenails

By Dr. Devin Grant

Ingrown toenails can be one of the most painful foot conditions to experience especially as an athlete. An ingrown toenail occurs when the border of the nail curves inward into the surrounding skin leading to pain, swelling, redness. Causes of an ingrown nail can range from trauma, improperly cutting the nail, and tight shoes, to name a few.
To remove a painful ingrown toenail your podiatrist will perform a small in-office procedure. This procedure will remove the offending border and uses a chemical to kill that portion of the ingrown nail to prevent it from recurring. By undergoing this easy office procedure, we can dramatically decrease the risk of you developing an ingrown nail again. The procedure itself is simple and the after-care is easy! After numbing, the ingrown toenail procedure takes about 10 minutes to be performed in the office and you leave with simple instructions for 1-2 weeks of home care.

Preventing Tendon & Ligament Injuries

As the beginning of fall sports approaches, it’s important to take certain measures to prevent injuries. Tendon and ligament injuries are among the most common but easily avoided. It’s essential to make sure your athlete is properly warming up, stretching, and cooling down. Minimizing these steps, or skipping them altogether, decreases flexibility and increases chance of injury. You also want to double check that all sports gear fits and functions properly. Whether it’s the right type of soccer cleats, the correct size hockey skates, or the appropriate kind of swimming fin, faulty footwear and equipment can lead to injury.

Another crucial step in preventing injuries is to make sure any increase in activity is done in a gradual and safe way. Make sure to follow the programs set by the coaches and trainers. Modifying or increasing activity can lead to overuse injuries.
Another easy step is to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water can stave off dehydration which causes muscle fatigue and greatly increases chance of injury. Finally, make sure there is time for plenty of rest.

Recovery is one of the most important aspects of injury prevention. A good night’s sleep and adequate time between practices, games, and meets can help avoid a litany of soft tissue injuries. By taking these steps you ensure the best season for your athletes!

The summer is a popular time of year for runners to start increasing their mileage in preparation for fall races with warmer temperatures and longer days. But there are a few things to keep in mind while increasing the mileage. One of the most important, listen to your body! If you’re noticing a new ache or pain realize that this might not be normal and seek help sooner than later. Better to get a professional opinion or treatment plan in place early to prevent a worsening condition before the fall reason season ramps up and you get sidelined.

A couple of pointers I would like to pass on as a fellow runner and Foot Doctor. Keep an eye on your gear, most importantly your foot gear. When the bottoms of your shoes start to show wear, it can change the mechanics of how your foot strikes the ground and possibly lead to injury. Most running shoes will last 300-500 miles. Depending on your weekly mileage, shoes might need to be replaced every 6 months. Stretch! Many injuries we see result from overuse as well as tightness, especially the calf which is well developed in runners. Get some good sleep. When we sleep our bodies can focus on healing and repair after tough workouts. Be cautious of over training. Build into your weekly training recovery days that will again, allow ample time for your body to recover from increased mileage.

If unfortunately you have an injury that is holding you back, please remember we are here to help! At Raleigh Foot & Ankle Center we strive each day to keep our patients active so that they can meet or exceed their goals. We have two convenient locations and offer some of the most cutting edge treatments in the Triangle for all foot and ankle conditions. We are here if you need us, but if not, happy running!!