3 Easy Steps to Improving Your Flexibility

It is important to keep your muscles loose and your body flexible in order to maintain your health. Increasing your flexibility can help lower your risk for developing an injury.

Follow these helpful steps to improve your flexibility and the health of your feet and ankles:

• Stretch throughout the day. You should stretch when you wake up in the morning, midday, before and after any instances of physical activity, and prior to tucking yourself in at night. Remember to stretch your entire body, including your smaller limbs like your feet, ankles and toes.

• Be conscious of your posture. Good posture is extremely important in preventing aches and pains throughout your entire body. Remember to maintain good posture throughout the day whether you are sitting or standing. Maintaining proper posture can keep your muscles from tightening and help improve flexibility.

• Add a little yoga. Yoga is a workout because it combines stretching and specific exercises that will help to improve your balance, flexibility and endurance. Yoga can even help to reduce your stress. You should conduct a yoga routine at least a couple times every week.

Increasing the flexibility of your muscles can help to increase your range of motion and improve your physical abilities. In order to promote your best physical performance and maintain the health of your entire body follow our helpful guidelines.

If you develop a foot or ankle related injury contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://exercise.about.com/cs/exbeginners/a/begflexibility.htm

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Maintain Healthy Feet through an Unpredictable Forecast

As you enter the fall season and colder weather is headed your way, you need to prepare your feet for the upcoming changes. One day it feels like summer and the next fall is ever so present on your doorstep. With this up and down in temperature it feels like whiplash weather!

While the forecast may always remain unpredictable, despite the weather’s man’s predictions, your health can pay the price. In order to maintain the health of your feet and the rest of your body throughout these weather changes follow these helpful tips.   

• Maintain a healthy diet. Make sure that your meals are packed with nutritional foods like green veggies and plenty of omega-3 fats, which can be found in fish or fish oil supplements. A well balanced diet can reduce inflammation in your feet and keep your entire body healthy no matter what weather blows your way.

• Get enough sleep. Your body needs eight hours of sleep every night so remember to plan your day accordingly. Sleep restores energy and can reduce stress levels.

• Take a shower. You should try to shower every night before you go to bed and every morning directly after you wake up. Taking a shower before you go to bed can help you fall asleep more easily. Taking a shower after you wake up can increase the blood circulation throughout your entire body, which reduces your risk for aches and pains.

• Drink water. You need to stay hydrated throughout the day to ward off sickness. Drinking water regularly keeps your immune system at its best. You should try to drink about two to three liters of water every day.

• Dress for the occasion. It’s important to keep your feet protected, so as the weather changes make sure to warm your feet with socks and enclosed toe shoes. Just like the rest of your body, your feet need to maintain a healthy temperature. Feet that are too hot or too cold can easily damage your health.

In order to maintain your health all year long, you need to take the proper precautionary steps and adjust to the changes in weather. If you notice a decline in the health of your feet this season contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&link=192947
http://www.momtastic.com/health-and-beauty/diet-a-nutrition/161679-stay-healthy-as-the-seasons-change
http://www.everydayhealth.com/foot-health/nutrition-and-your-feet.aspx

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Simple Shoe Tricks for Healthy Feet

Maintaining your health can be a tricky job. Your feet need care and attention just like the rest of your body. Footwear is made specifically to protect the health of your feet, but your shoes can’t do all the work - they need your help!

Follow these simple tips to helping your shoes protect your feet, ankles and all 10 toes:

• Get the right fit. The most important aspect of your shoes is the fit. Shoes need to fit correctly to the length, width and height of your feet. Your footwear should big long enough that your toes have about a thumb’s width before the end of your shoe, but not so big that your heel slides out the back. Shoes should also be wide enough that you have room to wiggle your toes and tall enough that they do not press down on your toes.

• Be specific to your exercise. Your shoes should be specific to your activities. If you are involved in different sports you need different shoes for each exercise. Physical activities put pressure on your feet, and soccer will affect your feet differently than running, yoga or football. Therefore each sport or exercise will require specific protection from your footwear so you will need different shoes for each of your activities.

• Alternate between shoes. While you should alternate different shoes for each of your exercises, you should also alternate your daily walking shoes. Your shoes need their days off just like you. This will not only help your shoes last longer, but also maintains the health of your feet.

• Cushion your feet. While your shoes should provide you an appropriate amount of cushioning, you should always pair your footwear with a comfortable pair of socks. Socks give your feet greater cushioning and reduce irritation between your feet and your shoes. This will help prevent painful ailments like blisters.

• Add an orthotic. Purchasing custom molded orthotics can be one of the best investments you will ever make. An orthotic adds support, comfort and cushioning to your footwear. It can relieve pain and reduce your risk for an injury.

Taking proper care of your feet can be a big job, but making foot care a part of your regular routine can help you prevent foot ailments throughout your lifetime. If you are experiencing pain in your feet or would like to come in for a check-up and proper foot examination contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20120912/LIFESTYLE/309120007/Tips-happy-feet?odyssey=nav%7Chead&nclick_check=1
http://runnersfeed.com/rotate-your-running-shoes/

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Precautionary Steps to Prevent Fungal Toenails

Fungal toenails can be painful, embarrassing and just plain gross. Fungal infections within your toenails can easily spread from the toenails to the skin. They can also infect your entire foot and the rest of your body.

In order to prevent this painful and disgusting condition, please follow our helpful tips:

• Wash and dry your feet. You must wash your feet with soap and water at least twice every day. Dry your feet thoroughly after and don’t forgot to dry between your toes.

• Use anti-fungal and antiperspirant products. Apply an anti-fungal cream to your feet and ankles on a daily basis. You can powder feet, ankles and toes with an antiperspirant to reduce sweating. This will also help keep your feet dry throughout all of your physical activities.

• Do not swap maintenance tools. It is so important to keep up the care of your feet and toes. However, your maintenance tools can easily spread fungal infections if you share. You always want to disinfect tools such as nail clippers, files and pumice stones before and after every use. Never share your tools with others or borrow someone else’s foot care products.

• Keep your socks and shoes to yourself. Just like with maintenance tools, you do not want to borrow socks and shoes. You also do not want to lend out your own. Socks and shoes directly touch your feet and harbor bacteria, especially from perspiration. Make sure to wash your socks after every use.

• Cut your toenails. It may sound simple enough, but this little task can easily be forgotten. Cut your toenails straight across and never curve at the ends. You also want to cut toenails at least once a week or whenever the nail grows past the end of your toe.

Fungal toenails can be extremely difficult to treat and may require permanent removal of the infected nail. For this reason, if you experience a fungal infection in your feet or toenails you want to contact our office immediately. You can call our office at (518)273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya. Don’t forget that while fungal nails are treatable, they can always come back! You need to take the proper precautionary steps to prevent reoccurring fungal infections.

References:

http://www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com/library/1821/FungalNails.html
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/fungal-infections-skin

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A Football Players Nightmare - the Terror of Turf Toe!

The school year is in full swing and it’s finally time for those boys of fall to return to the Friday night lights. Football can be a great way to stay active and build sportsmanship, but players should remember that they are always at high risk for an injury while out on the field. Football remains the number one sport for injuries, actually resulting in more injuries annually than the world’s most popular sports combined.

One of the most common injuries among football is turf toe. It is named due to its correlation with football. Turf toe is an injury referring to a sprain of the ligaments surrounding the joint of your big toe. Turf toe occurs when your big toe becomes jammed or you excessively push off from your big toe while running, jumping or participating in physical activity. The ligaments surrounding your big toe allow you to move up and down.

You are more likely to experience turf toe when playing on an artificial surface because turf is much harder than natural grass. Therefore your cleats are more likely to stick into an artificial surface, but it can occur on both surfaces. You can take a precautionary step by purchasing cleats that provide your feet with proper support. Stronger footwear, rather than flexible cleats, can prevent your feet from bending too far forward and putting greater pressure on your big toes.

Turf toe is associated with severe pain, swelling and limited mobility at the base of the joint of your big toe. If your injury is not treated properly, or turf toe becomes a repetitive injury, your condition may become serious and require surgical correction. If you have turf toe you will want to give your foot proper rest and time away from the football field. You should keep your injured foot elevated and apply ice in order to relieve pain and reduce swelling. The injury should be taped or wrapped by a medical professional in order to heal properly and add support.

If you experience turf toe this season contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya. Dr. Pandya will give you a proper examination and develop a treatment plan to get you back to your best health and out on the football field as soon as possible.

References:

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/turf-toe-symptoms-causes-and-treatments
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/footandankleinjuries/a/TurfToe.htm
http://www.coreperformance.com/knowledge/injury-pain/turf-toe.html

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Send Kids Back to School with Healthy Footwear

You have probably started packing lunches, looking up bus schedules, and scraping out old school supplies as you send your children back to school. While some items like pencils, pens, notebooks, backpacks, and clothes that your children have yet to outgrow can be reused, there are certain school supplies that should remain on the list year after year - shoes.

It’s likely that your children have outgrown their shoes from last year or at least out worn them. Your child’s shoes can affect the health of their feet, ankles, and entire body so it’s important to find a healthy pair.

With the endless numbers of styles it can be difficult to determine the right footwear for your child. Therefore Dr. Tejas Pandya has come up with some helpful guidelines to finding the healthiest shoes.

• Measure both feet. You should have your child’s feet properly measured before every purchase. Children’s feet can grow very quickly and at different rates. This often results in their feet being two different sizes. So when you measure their feet, fit their shoes to the larger foot. Ill-fitting footwear can result in a number of different foot ailments. 

• Take a stand. You should measure your child’s feet while they are in a standing position. When your child stands his or her feet bear the weight of his or her whole body, which can make feet expand under pressure. This ensures that shoes will be comfortable during weight bearing activities like sports, exercise, or even just walking and standing.

• Find the perfect fit. Ill-fitting shoes refer to both shoes that are too small and too big, both of which can result in foot ailments. Your child should have about a thumb’s width between their big toe and the end of their shoe. The toe box should also leave enough room so that they can comfortably wiggle those toes. Shoes should also fit tight enough that the heel does not slip out the back.

• Take a little walk. Shoes need to fit comfortably while sitting, standing and walking. Your child should try on both shoes and walk around the store to examine their comfort in motion. You also want to bring their own socks along to try on with the shoes. You should then question your child about any irritations or uncomfortable pressure from the footwear. 

• Examine the shoes. Children’s shoes should not collapse under pressure. Look for shoes with heels that are made from a durable material to hold in a fixed position. Shoes should also have a proper layer of cushioning on the insole and sufficient arch support. Shoes should bend at the ball of your child’s foot, but they should not in the middle nor should they be able to fold completely in half.

Proper foot care should start at an early age in order to prevent future foot problems. The right shoes can help prevent injuries on the playground, in athletics, and all other aspects of your child’s life. If you require additional assistance in finding the right shoes for your child, contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com/library/1783/Children%27sShoes.html
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00143

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New York Giants’ Prince Amukamara Suffers Ankle Sprain

Prince Amukamara, cornerback for the New York Giants, has recently suffered a mild sprain to his high ankle. The injury occurred during a recent pre-season game against the Chicago Bears. The injury took place with less than five minutes left in the first quarter of the game and Amukamara had to be carted off the field. He is now expected to be out for at least the next several weeks.

With Amukamara out, the Giants are worried about defending their title in this year’s Super Bowl. The timing could not be worse considering the injury took place less than two weeks before the regular season begins. Their starting cornerback, Amukamara, will certainly be out for their first game against the Dallas Cowboys taking place on September 5th.

The injury was originally thought to be a fracture but x-rays showed that it was a high ankle sprain. Ankle sprains result from unnatural motions that often twist the ankle bones and force them out of their proper and comfortable position in your foot. Ankle sprains occur when the ankle is forced out of its natural positioning. It results in severe stretching of the ankle’s ligaments. In more serious sprains the ligaments can actually tear or rip completely.

Since the injury appears mild, Amukamara may recover quickly and be able to return to the regular season without missing too many games. Ankle sprains should not be taken lightly, treated immediately and given the proper time to heal. If an ankle sprain does not receive proper treatment in a timely manner it can result in severe pain, swelling bruising, and even long-term issues with the injured foot. You should ice and elevate the injury as needed in order to relieve pain and swelling. Ankle sprains should also be properly wrapped with compressive bandages to prevent mobility of the ankle during the healing process. Serious sprains, or those left untreated, may require surgery.

When it comes to injuries, just like in sports, your best defense is a good offense. Therefore you should take the proper steps to prevent ankle sprains from occurring. Conduct a proper warm-up and cool-down routine that incorporate your feet in order to maintain the strength of your ankles and increase your balance and flexibility. Remember to stretch throughout the day, exercise for at least 30 minutes every day and purchase properly fitting footwear. If you experience an ankle sprain, contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com/library/1736/AnkleSprain.html
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/8301173/new-york-giants-cb-prince-amukamara-suffers-high-ankle-sprain

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8 Easy Steps to Preventing Overuse Injuries

Staying active is important in maintaining a healthy weight, building strong bones, muscles, and joints, and keeping your ligaments limber. Too much of a good thing can be bad - even when it comes to exercise. There are more than five-million sports related injuries happening every year. With that, almost half of all sports injuries are because of overuse.

In order to prevent overuse injuries, please follow our helpful tips:

• Create warm-up and cool-down routines. Stretching out your muscles and tendons keeps them strong and prevents stiffening, which can easily result in an injury. Create a 10-15 minute warm up routine and with the same routine to cool you down and relax your body.

• Know the correct techniques. Every sport and exercise comes with its own physical demands, but knowing the right techniques can protect your body from injuries. If you are unaware of the proper techniques, ask a coach or trainer for a proper evaluation and lesson.

• Do not over train. Of course, practice makes perfect, but too much training can take you out of the game. It’s important to train for all aspects of the game, so don’t focus on one specific area. Remember to give yourself a break and of course have days to rest.

• Get a physical. Before sports season begins, you should receive a proper physical. It’s important to determine that you are in good health before you begin extensive training. Contact our office to schedule a foot and ankle examination before you begin your training routine.

• Increase your workout routine gradually. When you sign up for a sport it’s typical to jump right into intense practices every day, but this can be dangerous. Ease into physical activity and increase your time on a weekly basis.

• Vary your sports. Sticking to one sport can easily lead to overuse injuries. If you vary your sporting activity, it provides different motions so your feet and ankles are not forced into the same positions year round.

• Give it a rest. Staying physical is important to your overall health, but so is allowing your body time to rest. If you are active in sports, you should give yourself time to rest after every season. Playing year round is an easy way to gain an overuse injury.

• Treat your injuries. If you do experience an injury, don’t think that playing through the pain makes you a better and more dedicated player. Playing through an injury is dangerous to your health, and the health of your body should always come before the game.

You can reduce your risk for an overuse injury by following our helpful tips. Overuse injuries, like all injuries, should be taken seriously and treated immediately. If you don’t treat overuse injuries in a timely matter, they can result in permanent damage. If you develop an overuse injury, contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120421-OPINION-204210304

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Lower Limb Surgery

Prevention, proper care, and time for injuries to heal are all important aspects in protecting your feet and ankles. Improper care can lead to more serious injuries, which can result in surgery. That word can sound scary, but surgery is sometimes your best option in keeping your feet and ankles safe and healthy.

Dr. Tejas Pandya has broken down a few foot and ankle surgeries so that you can know the facts and understand how to prevent injuries from becoming severe. They include:

• Heel Spur Surgery: Heel spurs most commonly arise from wearing improper shoes, repetitive stress upon your feet, or as an overuse injury. Heel spurs deserve proper care, but sometimes surgery is necessary as a last resort. Heel spurs can be severely painful to the point where it may affect your daily activities, but surgery can help relieve the pain. Like with most surgeries, the heel will need time to rest and recover. During this time period you should refrain from bearing weight upon your heal in order for the tissue to heal properly.

• Bunion Surgery: Bunions refer to growths that occur on the base of your big toe. Bunions often occur due to ill-fitting shoes, and that is why it is always important to try on shoes before every purchase and never wear shoes that are too small. Most bunions are painless and can be treated without surgery, but in extreme cases it can be necessary. Surgery can help relieve pain and restore mobility in rare cases so that you can resume your typical routine. After surgery your toe should remain wrapped and you should avoid bearing weight on your foot for several days.

• Ankle Fracture Surgery: If you severely fracture your ankle to the point where the ankle joint has become displaced and unstable. Ankle fracture surgery corrects the alignment of either the medial malleolus, which is the bone located on the inside of your ankle, or the outer bone known as the fibula. Your ankle is sensitive and damage to it can lead to uneven weight distribution, the loss of mobility, and even arthritis. It is always important to treat ankle injuries immediately and allow the injury proper time to heal and rest before becoming physically active once again. You want to make sure to prevent further injury and permanent damage.

In order to reduce your risk for surgery it’s important to take precautionary methods to prevent injuries from occurring. If an injury does occur proper care and time to heal is necessary to prevent surgery. If you have suffered an injury to your foot or ankle contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.heel-that-pain.com/heel_spur/surgery/heel_spurs_surgery.php
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00140
http://www.footeducation.com/ankle-fracture-surgery

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Easy Little Tricks to Your Foot Ailments

Your feet work incredible hours baring the weight of your entire body. Did you know that there are 26 bones in each of your feet? That is a quarter of the bones in your whole body. Your feet also contain 33 joints and more than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments. That’s a lot of sensitive body parts to break, sprain, and painfully injure!

Below are some tips to help you with your shoe buying and wearing.

• Buy the right size. Before you purchase footwear, you should always measure your feet and try on the shoes. Make sure to try on both shoes because your feet can often be different sizes. Pay attention to not only the length of your feet, but the width and the level of support that your arches require.

• Purchase specific shoes. Your shoes need to be personable in so many ways, not just a standard size! Look for shoes that are specific to your physical activities. Sports and exercise activities require different things from footwear in order to properly protect your feet. You should also base your purchases on your medical history and personal comfort.

• Look for wide toe boxes. Your toes need room to breathe and wiggle even when their strapped inside your shoes. Purchasing footwear with wide toe boxes can help reduce your risk for developing conditions such as bunions and hammertoes. Both bunions and hammertoes can occur from ill-fitting shoes. Wide toe boxes allow your toes more room and reduce irritation.

• Wear your socks. Socks work as a comforting barrier between your feet and your footwear. Comfortable socks can reduce irritation caused by your shoes so they prevent painful problems like blisters, corns and calluses. Socks also work to keep your feet dry and can help prevent fungal infections.

• Keep your feet dry. Your feet need to be washed with soap and water at least once a day, but drying them can be just as important. You should dry your feet thoroughly with a clean towel and pay special attention to your toes. If your shoes or socks become wet you should remove them until they are dried and preferably washed. You can apply a lotion to your feet in order to keep your skin moisturized, but remember to avoid your toes. Moistened feet create a perfect environment for fungal infections to grow.

• Use orthotics. Custom fitted orthotics can be one of the best investments you can make for the health of your feet. Custom made orthotics can reduce pain in your feet and ankles, give you greater arch support, provide cushioning and reduce your risk for a wide range of injuries.

Your feet and ankles can be one of the easiest areas on your body to develop injuries, which is why it’s so important to take the proper preventative measures. If you do develop a foot or ankle related injury, contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/11/2196699/know-how-to-prevent-treat-foot.html

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Playing Tennis Part 3 - Will Orthotics Help You on the Court?

The sport of tennis can be very stressful on both your feet and ankles. Tennis is associated with many quick movements that pivot your body back and forth, and bounce your feet from side to side. These quick movements can easily lead to many painful foot and ankle injuries and your feet require specific footwear for the sport. Specific footwear is a great way to prevent injuries, but you can reduce your risk even further by the use of custom made orthotics.

Tennis orthotics are designed to comfort your feet, keep them healthy, and reinstate the natural techniques and functions of your feet. Pain in the heel of your foot is often associated with an incorrect stride. Tennis orthotics can work to properly align your feet and ankles to their natural and healthy position. Tennis orthotics helps properly distribute your weight evenly on your feet so that pressure is not built up in certain areas. Orthotics can help to improve your posture which is directly related to your balance. Poor posture and balance can lead to serious injuries. Improper weight distribution upon your feet can severely alter the structure of your bones in both your feet, ankles, and your lower legs.

Orthotics are a great way to prevent injuries as well as help with conditions that you may already be experiencing. Orthotics can help reduce pain in your feet and ankles and comfort flat feet. Orthotics can also help with shock absorption. Tennis orthotics can also help to reduce your risk for developing the following conditions:

• Achilles Tendonitis
• Corns
• Metatarsalgia
• Ankle Sprains
• Flat Feet
• Bunions

Orthotics can inspire your greatest performance giving your muscles, tendons, and bones optimal functionality. Orthotics usually last between 12 and 16 months, after which they should be replaced. Your best option is to purchase custom made orthotics which are fitted specifically to the exact shape each of your feet in order to offer you the greatest protection.

If you would like to be fitted for custom molded tennis orthotics, contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.drfoot.co.uk/Tennis_Orthotics.htm

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Playing Tennis Part 2 - Most Common Foot and Ankle Injuries

The sport of tennis gives your body an aerobic workout. Playing tennis is a great way to stay healthy, fit and of course have fun. Unfortunately, your feet and ankles are subjected to an overwhelming amount of stress during a game. The back and forth and side to side motions of the game can put a lot of pressure upon your lower limbs. Combined with the swift start and stop of the game, your feet and ankles can very easily obtain an injury.

Common foot and ankle injuries while playing tennis include:

• Ankle Sprains: These painful ailments are the most common injuries associated with the sport of tennis. Ankle sprains commonly develop when the foot turns inward in an awkward motion. The consistent back and forth and side to side movements can make your ankles prone to sprains. Ankle sprains can cause severe pain and swelling. If you develop an ankle sprain, you should rest and elevate the injured ankle. You can apply ice and wrap the ankle to reduce swelling and relieve pain.

• Plantar Fasciitis: The quick movements involved in a tennis match can put a lot of stress on the arch of your foot. You plantar fascia, the band of fiber tissue that stretches from your heel bone down to your toes, supports the arch of your foot. The forced exerted on your feet can cause the plantar fascia to become inflamed and extremely painful as a result of plantar fasciitis. You can treat, as well as, prevent this condition by purchasing tennis specific shoes, wearing the correct shoe size, and investing in custom made orthotics.

• Tennis Toe: This condition, also referred to as subungal hematoma, develops when blood collects underneath your toenail. Tennis toe can be directly related to the shoes that you wear. It is always important to wear the correct shoe size. Remember to measure your feet and try shoes on before every purchase. You should also check your shoes at least once a month to determine that they still fit properly. You should purchase footwear that is specific to tennis in order to better protect your feet. If you develop tennis toe, you can relieve built up blood by applying ice, but make sure to contact our office as soon as possible.

With the overwhelming amount of stress exerted on your feet and ankles it can be easy to develop an injury.  It is important to take preventative methods while playing tennis. If you require any additional information on how to prevent these common injuries, or you have already developed an injury, contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.stege.com/topics/sports/tennis.htm

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• Playing Tennis Part 1 - Finding the Right Shoes

Playing Tennis Part 1 - Finding the Right Shoes

Tennis players need to have speed, good coordination, endurance, and be quick on their feet. All of this can be affected by the shoes on your feet. When you think of equipment associated with the sport of tennis you probably think about the ball, the racket, and the need for a properly sized court and net. However, so many people forget about the footwear.

Shoes should always be considered as one of the most important forms of equipment associated with almost every sport. Tennis players should wear tennis specific shoes in order to keep their feet healthy and happy. Dr. Tejas Pandya has come up with a few tips to help guide you in the right direction.

• Look for flexibility. Proper tennis shoes should be able to maneuver the excessive movements associated with the sport. Tennis involves a wide range of movements. From side-to-side steps, to the fast runs and the intense jumps, your shoes should be flexible enough to manage these quick and varying movements.

• Support the sides of your feet. The movements involved in a tennis match can often cause you to lean to the sides of your feet. For this reason, your shoes should have extra lateral support in order to reduce your risk of injury.

• Know your court. Tennis courts can be made of a variety of different materials. Your tennis match may take place on concrete, grass, or clay, and each holds a different set of requirements on the amount of support and cushioning you need from your shoes. Determine what kind of court you will be playing on and then choose your footwear accordingly.

• Be sport specific. A lot of tennis players are under the assumption that they can get by just fine with regular running shoes. However, Dr. Pandya urges you to wear tennis specific footwear. Running shoes are designed for different movements, and not those associated with the sport of tennis.  Therefore running shoes cannot properly protect your feet during a match.

Discovering the right shoe for your personal needs can be difficult due to the increasingly large variety available to you. The exact shape of your foot, your natural stride, and your posture can have a huge effect of the shoes your feet require. If you desire any additional help on finding the right tennis shoe, or would like to be fitted for a custom molded orthotic, contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.tennisexpress.com/info/buying-the-right-tennis-shoes.cfm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/211024-the-best-tennis-shoes-with-foot-support/

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