They only come around every 4 years! The Olympics are upon us, and they haven’t disappointed. It has been a joy watching all the athletes representing these United States of America. Regardless of the medal counts, all the athletes should be congratulated for their hard work and dedication that has brought them to that level of competition. So with deepest pride, those of us here at Sole Foot and Ankle Specialists wish to congratulate Team USA on a job well done. They have represented well the spirit of the games and what the United States stands for.
Throughout all the various events, one can’t help but notice how vital our feet and ankles are to the pursuit of athletics. While its no surprise that we at Sole Foot and Ankle Specialists would make this observation, it is undeniable. Many times a foot or ankle injury could mean the end of a season, or even a career. In fact, the profession of podiatry has had a long-standing role in the world of Sports Medicine and athletics. As podiatrists our services are vital in the proper training of an athlete, on-site or event support, and post injury treatment.
Podiatry has a strong foundation of proper biomechanics and function of the foot and ankle. During athletic training, Podiatric foot and ankle specialists give sound biomechanical instruction to maximize athletic performance. We ensure the athlete implements proper movement patterns and form when it comes to activities such as running, sprinting, jumping, and so forth. We also provide the proper tools an athlete needs to be successful such as custom orthotics, athletic taping, strapping, and other modalities.
During an event, a podiatrist’s expertise is often called on to provide supportive services such as on-the-fly taping or equipment adjustment. The unpredictability of sports demands that a foot and ankle specialist provide assistance in the event of an injury or other emergency. In this scenario, our assistance often takes its deepest roots. Podiatrists are on the forefront of not only conservative care but also surgical care and treatment of sports related injuries.
For these reasons, Podiatry as a profession has claimed it’s vital membership on the team of athletic healthcare providers. If you or someone you know could benefit from the services we provide to athletes, please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay C. Larson at Sole Foot and Ankle Specialists in Glendale, Arizona.