Physical
injury is rarely planned and almost never expected. Of the most common,
unexpected injuries that people can suffer are ankle injuries—there are
approximately 28,000 foot injuries that occur daily. Some of these injuries
result from sports and other physical activities, while others are the result
of mishaps or accidents that could not be avoided. The important thing is not
the source of the injury; it’s what you do to recover from said injury.
One
of the most common phrases you will hear after an ankle or foot injury is:
“just walk it off.” Sometimes we try to endure past the initial pain of a
sprain in order to finish a set task or because putting it off for later may
seem inconvenient. In all foot injuries there is the possibility that the pain
starts off subtly enough that you try to endure it and finish what you’re
doing. However, recent information released by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association shows
that sprains or injuries to the foot of any kind should not be dismissed or
taken too lightly.
With
ankle injuries being so common in everyday life, we need to get rid of the
“walk it off” mentality that has become so equally common in society. Rather
than risking further damage to your feet following a sprain or injury, it is
best to follow professional advice on how to treat and recover from foot
injuries.
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| Courtesy WikiHow.com |
Taking
care of ankle sprains and foot injuries properly is also crucial for avoiding
additional problems down the road. Injuries that are not cared for properly are
more likely to lead to reinjury, arthritis, and chronic disability.
What Not To Do
·
Don’t
try to Walk it Off: trying
to struggle through the pain can actually lead to more problems and, contrary
to popular belief, walking on an injured foot while the injury is “fresh”
causes more problems in the long run. The first thing do is Protect the injured
area.
·
Don’t
turn to NSAID’s immediately: non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are meant to relieve pain and prevent
swelling; however, recent studies have shown that it is best to wait a few
hours before taking NSAID’s because inflammation is natural to healing process
that leads to recovery. Resting the injured area is the best thing you can do.
·
Don’t
risk reinjury: after injury, and even after recovery,
it is important not to expose your feet or ankles to the strain of hazardous
shoes or unnecessary physical activity. Feeling better and jumping right back
into physical activities can lead to reinjury, especially after any initial
strain.
With any type of injury, the best advice is to have
the injury diagnosed by a professional to determine the extent of the damage
and the type of recovery necessary for your injury. Remember, whether you are
very physically active or more sedentary, ankle sprains and foot injuries can
happen to anyone and it is important to take care of these injuries to protect
our feet and treat them with respect.
