Retail clinic care professionals can help patients avoid sports injuries

BETHESDA, Md. The 2008-2009 football season is gearing up so those working within retail-based health clinics should not only watch for more sports injuries but also help patients protect themselves by offering preventative tips.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, both professional and amateur athletes are at an extremely high risk for injuring their lower limbs during play.

“Stress fractures of the foot, ankle sprains and ligament injuries are all, unfortunately, quite common in popular fall sports such as football,” stated David Davidson, APMA member and podiatric medical consultant for the Buffalo Bills of the NFL. “From maintaining proper conditioning to wearing sport-specific footwear, athletes can function at peak performance much more often when constantly maintaining high levels of foot care safety.”

Tips to help avoid sprains, fractures and turf toe include:

• To help avoid sprains take part in proper warm-up exercises before and after home workouts, practice and games. Spend five to 10 minutes stretching, holding and relaxing muscles.
• To help avoid fractures look for sport-specific footwear that contains extra padding in cleated shoes, which helps to prevent stress fractures—incomplete fractures in bones are typically caused by overuse.
• To help avoid turf toe wear a stiffer shoe so prevent aggravating the injury further. Customized foot orthotics may also be worn during play to protect against turf toe.