Different Forms of Treating an Athlete's Heel Injuries

Experiencing heel injuries can be the result of various factors. The most common causes of these may include participating in exhausting activities or extreme sports involving your feet. It is a fact that athletes tend to move around a lot and use various parts of their body while playing different kinds of sports. Most sports require the use of their feet and sometimes, injuries are inevitable. Usually, these injuries are connected with an athlete's heel and it is only fitting to understand these injuries and how to treat them.

There are various types of heel injuries such as heel spur, plantar fasciitis, heel fracture, and Achilles heel injury. It is advisable to know the different ways to treat them in order to apply the best cure. When it comes to heel spur or plantar fasciitis, treatments such as resting your feet for a few days is worthwhile. When an athlete tends to continue using his or her feet even when it's injured, inflammation can happen. Applying ice massage to the injured part can do the trick, too. A good way to apply ice is to tend to the bottom part of the heel for ten to thirty minutes regularly. When you are suffering from any form of heel injuries, it is best to avoid walking barefoot. Another form of treating your injured heel is by using night splints. This can be worn while you're sleeping and it helps strengthen your calf muscles and plantar fascia. You can also try anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen.

Another common type of injury among athletes is the Achilles heel injury. As for treating this, exercises that involve stretching and muscle straightening are the key. Try to do these types of exercise on your calf muscles first. By doing this, the pressure on the Achilles can be a lot more relaxed. Most of the time, running on hard surfaces can be the cause of this type of injury. In order to avoid it, you should try running on soft surfaces instead. It is also best to do warm ups because bad blood circulation usually applies in the Achilles heel. Wearing shoes that support the arch is advisable as well. Always make sure that you wear firm shoes while training or playing sports. In addition, don't wear shoes that tend to bend in the middle. When buying for shoes, it is best to test their stability in order to avoid injuries as you use them.

In other cases, though, treating heel injuries can be more difficult. If pain persists even after thorough forms of treatment have been applied, consulting a doctor is necessary. Doctors won't usually advise you to undergo surgeries because a high percentage of injuries can be treated using a wide variety of means. Most of the time, doctors will just advise you to try and use customized orthotics or prescribed medicines that can further reduce pain. Athletes should take heel injuries seriously especially during early symptoms of pain as to avoid more problems later on.