Indoor sports are a passionate pastime for many Las Vegas residents, especially for those chilly winter evenings or blistering, sunny summer days. Basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer and tennis, hockey, climbing walls—there’s no shortage of opportunities for active people to head inside to get their sports fix.
Indoor sports do, however, present some increased opportunities for injuring your feet and ankles. Unlike more forgiving outdoor sports played on softer surfaces like grass or dirt, indoor sports often put you on tougher turf, or even hardwood or concrete. This puts you at greater risk for injuries such as stress fractures, ankle sprains, heel pain, and more.
You can better protect your feet and ankles from damage by following these tips:
- Invest in a good pair of athletic shoes. You don’t have to break the bank, but getting the right fit and support is important and significantly reduces the risk of pain and injury. Your shoes should also be built specifically for the sport you play.
- Warm up, stretch, and cool down properly.
- Use athletic tape, ankle braces, or other supports as necessary to protect at-risk joints.
- If you join a rec league, play with others who are approximately the same size and skill level as you. Being overmatched technically or physically can lead to injury, especially from collisions.
- Condition yourself properly for play. If you haven’t played basketball in years, don’t throw yourself into league play with reckless abandon! If you don’t give yourself some time to get fit and gradually adjust to new activities, your feet may not be ready to handle the strain.
Whatever you play, the team at Absolute Foot Care Specialists in Las Vegas can help you protect yourself, as well as recover from any pain or injury. Most serious sports injuries arise when trying to play through obvious pain, so when your feet are telling you to stop, don’t take the risk—make an appointment with our team and get the care you need to fully heal and return at 100%. Give us a call today at (702) 839-2010, or request an appointment online.