I broke my ankle about three years ago in a car accident. I followed all of the doctor's instructions as my ankle healed, but something didn't heal quite right. Two and a half years later, I was still having severe pain and my doctor couldn't figure out why. He suggested that I see a podiatrist to have it looked at more closely. It turns out that there is a lot more to an ankle injury than I had known. Scroll through my site to find out what can really happen to your ankle when it is broken and what could cause the pain to continue long after the injury is sustained.
If you're a senior and you've been mostly sedentary, fitness walking might be the right way to get active again. Walking has physical and mental health benefits, so building up your stamina so you can take long walks daily might be a goal you want to achieve. However, your sore and painful feet might have other ideas. Rather than ignore your pain or give up walking, see a foot specialist for help. Here are some things they might do or recommend.
Check Your Feet's Health
Your feet change as you age. They might get wider, lose fat padding, or start sagging in the arches. Plus, you might have arthritis, toe problems, or your gait might be abnormal. A foot specialist will examine your feet and watch how you walk. If they find problems, they can treat your feet or provide solutions so you're able to walk more comfortably.
Suggest Shoe Inserts
You might need custom orthotics to pad or support your feet if you have a foot condition. Otherwise, your foot specialist might recommend a specific type of shoe insert to wear all the time or just when you're fitness walking. You might need padding to help with heel pain or arch supports.
Teach You Foot Exercises
If you've been sedentary, you should build up the distance you walk gradually so you don't injure your feet. Your foot specialist might also recommend exercises you can do to strengthen your ankles and feet. When your muscles are strong, you're better protected from injuries and your feet won't get tired as fast.
Recommend the Right Shoes to Wear
One of the most important things you can do when you start fitness walking is to wear the right shoes. A podiatrist can teach you how to pick out shoes so your feet have the best support and protection while you're walking. Wearing the wrong kind of shoes could lead to plantar fasciitis or another foot condition that takes a long time to heal from.
Treat Your Injuries
If you're having foot pain because you've injured your foot while walking, see a foot specialist for a diagnosis and treatment. You might be told to rest your foot to allow it to heal. Your podiatrist might have you wear a splint that stretches your foot so it doesn't get tight and painful.
Injuries are always a possibility when you're fitness walking. You might twist your ankle on a rock or develop Achilles tendonitis from overworking your foot. When you have new foot pain that doesn't go away, get treatment so your feet stay healthy. Healthy feet help you stay mobile. Walking often can improve your balance, build muscle, and improve your health, so keep your feet pain-free so you enjoy your daily walks.
Share29 June 2021
