HealthyFeetBlog.com

The NFL preseason is here and football fans are gearing up for the upcoming 17 week-long regular season filled with last minute winning drives, tough bruising tackles, and unbelievably majestic catches that can rival any professional dance routine.  There can’t be a better time of the year than now because football season gives fans excuses to buy large flat screen TVs, eat barbecue every Sunday, and once and a while partake in friendly neighborhood football games.  Unfortunately, playing innocent football games can lead to a variety of unhealthy foot conditions such as Turf Toe, Achilles Tendonitis, Ankle Pain, and Athlete’s Foot.

Turf Toe:  Tearing of the capsule that surrounds the joint at the base of the toe. Most professional football players get this common foot injury by playing on hard surfaces like artificial turf, hence the name turf toe; so when weekend warriors play two-hand touch football games on hard paved neighborhood streets, there’s a good chance they might jam their toe on the ground.  Before the decision is made to play football on hard surfaces, wearing turf toe steel insoles are highly recommended for prevention.  It’s always better to be safe than sorry because turf toe is a really painful injury, can be debilitating, and can take up to a month to recover.

Achilles Tendonitis:  Pain at the back of the heel caused by the inflammation of the achilles tendon: fibers of the tendon tear and stretch due to strain over time. Besides wearing arch supports and heel pads, it’s a good idea to stretch the foot and achilles tendon before any physical activity that involves walking or running – especially if playing football.  It’s the same concept as stretching muscles: for example, if the hamstring muscle isn’t stretched, there’s a good chance it will get pulled during physical activity; so if the achilles tendon is stiff and isn’t stretched before a game, there’s a good chance one could experience Achilles Tendonitis. For a more detailed explanation on how to stretch the achilles tendon, HealthyFeetStore.com recommends these stretching instructions from WebMD.

Ankle Pain:  Inflammation and irritation of the ankle caused by trauma or athletic injury. Football is a really tough game to play that involves two things: quick fast sprints and hard sudden changes in direction.   It’s these two things that can easily cause ankle sprains; so for those that find themselves with weak ankles, it’s highly recommended wearing ankle braces for added stability or shoes with really strong lacing saddles.  Remember, recreational football games are not really meant to be played with the same intensity as professional games, so before trying to mimic what the pros do, try playing at a slower pace to ensure nothing gets twisted or tangled in the process.

Athlete’s Foot:  A skin infection caused by fungus that results in itching, scaling, dry skin, and blisters; it also leads to smelly feet. Even though extreme joy can be felt after scoring a touchdown to win the game, the smell of victory isn’t so sweet after one of the most annoying and legendary unhealthy foot conditions known to man sets in: athlete’s foot.  Not only will athlete’s foot cause itching and irritation, but bad foot odor as well.  Unfortunately this fungus thrives and grows in damp warm moist conditions such in shoes.  There are several ways to prevent athlete’s foot from happening: one could wear moisture wicking socks and a pair of orthopedic athletic shoes with breathable uppers to help keep feet dry, or use various antifungal treatments before and after the game.  For those already suffering from this foot condition, odor control foot powders and athlete’s foot creams are recommended for treatment.

Football is easily one of the most popular sports in America, so much that the NFL Super Bowl is the most watched television event in the United States; but playing the game can really take a toll on the body, especially on feet and ankles.  If the right steps are taken, preventative measures and treatment can easily be accomplished; this way one will spend less time lying in bed due to foot injuries and more time sitting in front of a wide screen TV with a bag of chips and a refreshing beverage all while watching crazy touchdown dances and hearing the loud roars of true NFL fans.

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