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Cromwell, CT 06416

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Posts for category: sports injuries

By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
July 31, 2019
Category: sports injuries

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we are firm believers in the benefits of regular exercise for your feet, lower extremities and the rest of your body. Warm temperatures and longer days can make it easier to keep an outdoor fitness activity going during the summer, but the season also presents special challenges. Below are some tips to help you avoid foot and ankle injuries while exercising this summer.

Stretch it Out—most patients know they should stretch before and after exercise, but some are confused as to which type of stretches to do when. Static stretches of the quads, hamstrings, etc. should only be done after muscles are warmed up. Dynamic stretches such as ankle circles or swinging your legs back and forth should be done lightly and briefly before exercising.

Be Cool—avoid working out during the hottest periods of the day. Aim for early morning or early evening when it’s cooler. When you’re done, find a shady spot to wind down. Drink lots of water to ensure that you stay hydrated. It will keep your body cooler and also help reduce the risk of swelling of the feet and ankles.

Get the Right Stuff—be sure to wear the right shoes for the activity you are doing. Flip flops won’t cut it for any type of physical activity other than walking from your lounge chair to the changing area or restroom. Be smart about what you do too. Always start out gradually and work up slowly to a more intense routine of longer duration. If the heat or sun is making you feel unwell, stop.

Deal with Injuries Promptly—if your muscles are sore after working out, icing will usually help. If you have a chronic foot or ankle problems such as plantar fasciitis or weak ankles, talk to our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas about the best types of exercise and the proper footwear to accommodate your podiatric problem. If you injure your foot or ankle, make an appointment as soon as possible at our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499. In the meantime, use the RICE regimen—rest, ice, compression and elevation—to treat your injury until you can be seen by the doctor.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
November 27, 2018
Category: sports injuries
Tags: ankle sprains   injuries   fractures   chilblains  

There are tons of fun and exciting sports to try your hand at during the winter, but unfortunately, lots of those sports can also come with serious injuries! Every year millions of people grab their poles and hit the slopes, lace up their skates and hit the ice, or try out some other new winter sporting activity. As fun as these activities can be year after year, they also come with the risk of foot and ankle injuries like ankle sprains, strains, and fractures.

If you’re making plans to participate in any winter sports this year, follow these safety tips to prevent injuries:

  • Use the buddy system – even if you are an expert, it’s safer to have someone nearby to provide assistance or to get help immediately if needed. It’s also more fun to have a friend!
  • Get the appropriate safety gear – helmets, goggles, boots, and any other needed equipment are essential to keeping your body protected and avoiding injuries.
  • Learn the rules – if it’s your first time participating in this activity, read up on any rules and sign up for lessons to know how to avoid getting yourself hurt.
  • Do your warmups – in freezing temperatures, your muscles are more susceptible to injury. Stretching and warming them up helps in prevention.
  • Dress in layers – insulate your body against the cold to prevent conditions like chilblains or frostbite.
  • Take breaks – in the cold, your body exerts even more energy. Take breaks and allow yourself to recover and warm up.
  • Stay hydrated – drink plenty of fluids during and after sports to prevent cramping and other issues.

You can prevent a lot of winter injuries by staying healthy, limber, warm, hydrated, and nourished during any sports you take part in. That said, accidents do occur! If you hurt your foot or ankle out on the slopes or the ice, call a podiatrist immediately.

If you sustained a sports injury, we’re here for you here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC. Dr. Adam Mucinskas keeps up-to-date on all the latest podiatric health issues and utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment techniques. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
June 13, 2018
Category: sports injuries

We’re right smack in the middle of baseball season. If you’ve been practicing your homerun swing this year, you know it can take a lot out of you! Though it might not seem as dangerous as a contact sport like tackle football, if you’ve ever twisted your ankle diving for a ball or suffered a stress fracture rounding the bases, you know how your body can take a beating. There are many common foot injuries associated with America’s pastime. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we’ve compiled some of the common ones, along with great ways to prevent them.

The most common injuries in baseball:

  • Sprains and fractures: quick sprints, slides, and pivots are a huge part of baseball. After you get a solid slug, you want to round the bases as quickly as possible to avoid getting tagged out. These herky-jerky movements can often lead to overstretching a tendon or ligament or fracturing a bone.
  • Achilles tendinitis: brief sprints followed by pauses repeatedly can shock your Achilles tendon and cause it to become inflamed.
  • Plantar fasciitis: catchers are in a squatting position for long stretches of a baseball game, often causing their arches to hurt. Heel spurs can also occur from prolonged plantar fasciitis.
  • Ingrown toenails: tight cleats that squeeze your toes together can cause ingrown toenails.

Prevention is key for all sports injuries. To keep yourself in the game, follow these tips:

  • Practice good warmup and cooldown techniques before and after playing
  • Get the right gear and ensure your baseball cleats are a proper fit
  • Learn good running and sliding techniques and always keep them in practice
  • Rest when you need to and let your body recover between playing
  • Stay hydrated
  • Keep up with podiatry appointments, especially if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort

A sprain or slight injury might not seem like a big deal when you’re in the heat of the game, but without proper treatment, it can worsen and potentially lead to a chronic foot issue. If your safety practices have waned throughout the baseball season, now might be a great time to reassess them to ensure your feet and ankles stay safe and healthy.

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help assess your foot and ankle health and ensure your season continues well. If you have sustained an injury this year, Dr. Mucinskas can assess and administer any needed pain relief. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
March 21, 2018
Category: sports injuries

How’s your bracket doing this March Madness? Have your winning teams inspired you to hit the court and shoot some hoops? Basketball is a great way to keep your body active and healthy, but without taking the proper precautionary steps, it can also be a dangerous sport! Repeated running and jumping on a court can put a lot of stress on your feet and ankles, causing great injury and putting you on the sideline for weeks.

Here are some common sports injuries associated with basketball and how to avoid them:

  • Ankle Sprains

Ankle Sprains are quite common in basketball. A sprain happens when your foot rolls or bends unnaturally and stretches or even tears one or more ligament. You’ll know your ankle is sprained if it’s very painful to walk on and if there’s swelling or bruising.

Treatment: Ankle sprains need a lot of rest, plus ice to reduce the swelling. Bandages may also be used to hold the ankle in place while it heals. A serious injury might require surgery.

Prevention: Stretching is a must before the big game. Making sure your body is limber and ready to go is necessary. Well-fitting shoes made for basketball are also good for prevention.

  • Plantar Fasciitis

The repeated stress from landing on your feet can cause stress on your heels, often leading to injuries like plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis, or heel spurs, occurs when the plantar fascia, the ligament connecting your heel to the front of the foot, becomes inflamed. This inflammation is accompanied by pain when you walk.

Treatment: Plantar fasciitis is often treated conservatively with rest, ice, stretching, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medication (please talk to your physician before taking medication). In recurring, persistent cases, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment (ESWT) is used for treatment.

Prevention: Calf stretches before hitting the court can be helpful for preventing plantar fasciitis. Orthotic inserts can also cushion the blow of hard jumps.

  • Achilles tendonitis

Your Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body and can withstand forces of over 1,000 pounds. It is also one of the most vulnerable to rupturing. Achilles tendonitis occurs in professional and casual athletes from overuse and inflammation of the tendon. Achilles tendonitis comes with pain after exercise, mild swelling, tenderness about an inch above the Achilles, or sluggishness in your leg.

Treatment: Constrictive bandages are used to limit motion of the tendon. Rest and low impact exercises, such as swimming, are encouraged. Orthotics can also help ease the pain quite a bit.

Prevention: You might be noticing a trend here, but stretching is a necessity to prevent Achilles tendonitis. Also, knowing your limits and knowing when to take a rest are both important.

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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416