New Study: Your Foot Position While Walking and Running May Cause Ankle Sprains
According to a study published in the online edition of the American Journal of Sports Medicine, this summer, the position of the foot just before ground contact during running and walking may put people at risk for ankle sprains. Cathleen Brown Crowell, PhD, ATC, a University of Georgia kinesiology researcher, said that people with a history of repetitive ankle sprains had little room between their feet and the floor during running and were more likely to point their toes downward while walking.
Crowell stated in a University of Georgia press release: "Almost everyone who is physically active will suffer an ankle sprain at some point. Many people develop repetitive ankle injuries that are painful, can decrease performance and increase the risk of ankle osteoarthritis. We were able to identify factors in foot positioning prior to contact with the ground that may predispose some people to these repetitive injuries."
The study involved a 3-D motion analysis of three groups, each consisting of 11 male athletes.
"We can apply our findings to clinical practice," Crowell stated. "Our study demonstrates there are differences in movements at the foot and ankle in an injured population that may respond to rehabilitation interventions beyond typical stretching and strengthening. The next step is to see if targeted interventions — trying to influence how people run and walk, can treat and even prevent ankle sprains."
When an injury is sustained it is important to know what to do. Common misconceptions prevent many from getting immediate attention for foot or ankle injuries. Some of these include assuming a bone is not broken if it can be moved, not seeking care for a broken toe because nothing can be done for it, simply using an elastic bandage for a sprained ankle, and finally assuming that a fracture, a break, and a crack are all different when in fact they all describe a broken bone. Each of the above should be addressed by a foot and ankle specialist immediately.
If an injury has occurred to your foot or ankle remember RICE until you can get to your foot and ankle specialist. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Rest the injured foot or ankle by restricting activities, Ice the injury with a 20 minute on, 40 minute off pattern, lightly wrap the injury with a compression bandage, and finally Elevate the injured foot or ankle to reduce pain and swelling.
If you suffer an ankle or foot injury, then you need to see a foot and ankle specialist as soon as possible.
About the Author
Please call 626-447-2184 (Arcadia) or 310-551-1711 (Century City) to speak to a trained foot and ankle specialist. Or go to http://footanklealliance.com
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