III. Surface Matters: Mat Sports

Takedowns and Tapouts: Protecting Your Feet in Mat Sports

Mat sports like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and wrestling are demanding disciplines that require incredible strength, agility, and explosiveness. While these sports offer incredible physical and mental rewards, they also put significant stress on your feet and ankles. This type of barefoot sport definitely put your feet at risk for injury!

Common Foot and Ankle Injuries in Mat Sports:

• Ankle Sprains: Sudden changes in direction, grappling maneuvers, and the constant pressure of weight can lead to ankle sprains.

• Toe Injuries: Stubbed toes, jammed toes, and even fractures are common due to the dynamic nature of these sports.

• Plantar Fasciitis: Repetitive stress on the plantar fascia, the ligament supporting your arch, can occur from constant weight-bearing and explosive movements.

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

Tips for Keeping Your Feet in the Fight:

• Proper Footwear: Invest in high-quality wrestling shoes or MMA footwear that provide adequate support, cushioning, and ankle stability.

• Strength and Conditioning: Focus on exercises that strengthen the muscles of your feet, ankles, and lower legs.

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

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

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

The Podiatrist's Role:

A podiatrist, like Dr. Arya, can play a crucial role in optimizing your performance and minimizing your risk of injury:

• Biomechanical Assessment: Dr. Arya can evaluate your gait and identify any biomechanical issues that may increase your risk of injury.

• Injury Prevention Strategies: Dr. Arya  can provide personalized advice on injury prevention, including strength and conditioning exercises, stretching routines, and footwear recommendations.

• Injury Treatment and Rehabilitation: If you do experience an injury, a podiatrist like Dr. Arya can provide effective treatment and rehabilitation to help you recover quickly and safely.

By prioritizing foot and ankle care, you can minimize your risk of injury, enhance your performance, and continue to excel in the challenging world of mat sports. Address any issues promptly to prevent them from worsening. 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.

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!