II. Surface Matters: Court Sports

Unleash Your Potential: Foot and Ankle Care for Peak Court Performance

Court sports like tennis and basketball demand explosive movements, quick changes in direction, and powerful jumps. This puts immense stress on your feet and ankles, potentially hindering your performance and increasing your risk of injury.

But fear not! By prioritizing foot and ankle care, you can unlock your true potential on the court.

Common Court Sport Injuries:

• Ankle Sprains: The cornerstone of court sport injuries, ankle sprains occur frequently due to sudden stops and starts, and lateral movements.

• Plantar Fasciitis: The repetitive stress of jumping and landing can irritate the plantar fascia, the ligament supporting your arch.

• Achilles Tendonitis: Inflammation of the Achilles tendon, often caused by the demands of jumping and explosive movements.

• Metatarsal Stress Fractures: Repetitive pounding on the court can lead to tiny cracks in the metatarsal bones in the ball of your foot.

• Jumper's Knee: Pain around the kneecap, often stemming from overuse and repetitive stress on the quadriceps and patellar tendon.

Unlocking Peak Performance:

• Proper Footwear: Invest in high-quality athletic shoes specifically designed for your sport. Look for shoes with excellent lateral support, shock absorption, and ankle stability.

• Strength and Conditioning: Strengthen the muscles of your feet, ankles, and lower legs with exercises like calf raises, toe raises, and balance drills.

• Flexibility and Mobility: Improve flexibility and range of motion with regular stretching, particularly of the calves and hamstrings.

• Warm-up and Cool-down: Always warm up properly before playing and cool down with light cardio and stretching afterward.

• Proper Technique: Focus on proper playing technique to minimize stress on your feet and ankles.

• Listen to Your Body: Don't ignore any pain or discomfort. Address any issues promptly to prevent them from worsening.

The Podiatrist's Role:

A podiatrist specialized in sports medicine, like Dr. Arya can play a vital role in keeping you on the court.

To maximize your court performance, consider partnering with a podiatrist. We conduct a biomechanical assessment to identify gait abnormalities that may increase your risk of injury. This may involve recommending custom orthotics, which Dr. Arya hand molds for each patient, to improve foot function and reduce stress. Dr. Arya can also provide personalized injury prevention strategies, including tailored exercise programs and footwear guidance. And when injuries occur, we can develop an effective treatment and rehabilitation plan to get you back on the court quickly and safely. Here at Arya Foot & Ankle, we offer convenient in-house X-ray and ultrasound services, and we're open during lunch hours, on Saturdays, and most weekdays to accommodate your busy schedule. Visit our website at www.aryafootandankle.com or call us at 602-309-8788 to set up an appointment.

By prioritizing foot and ankle care, you can minimize your risk of injury, enhance your performance, and unleash your true potential on the court. 

Author

Dr. Shylaja Arya Dr. Arya is the owner of Arya Foot & Ankle, a podiatry practice that serves the greater Phoenix area with same day, Saturday, and lunch time appointments. She is a level 500 yoga instructor, tennis player, dog mom and shoe lover!