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Scooters, Skateboards, and Sidewalk Sports: A Foot Health Balancing Act

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Skateboarding, scootering, and other blacktop board sports feel like a staple of American upbringing. From Heely’s (remember those shoes with built-in wheels?) to Ripsticks, there has been a range of driveway toys and activities that have caused an equal amount of pleasure and pain.

Falling off a board on your neighborhood street seems like fun, but understanding the potential dangers and taking preventive measures can help you enjoy these activities without compromising your foot health. We at Carrollton Foot Center are here to fill you in.

Common Foot and Ankle Injuries

  • Ankle sprains: The repetitive twisting and turning in board sports can strain the ankle ligaments, and tricks on skateboards inevitably lead to awkward falls.
  • Fractures: Falls and impacts can result in fractures of the foot, ankle, or leg bones. Longboards down steep hills can reach speeds of 80 miles per hour, which spells obvious trouble for catastrophic foot injuries.
  • Scooter Fractures: These can occur from scooter whiplash. They swivel quite loosely, and if they hit you hard enough, it can fracture your ankle.
  • Abrasions and cuts: Skin injuries are common due to falls and contact with the board or ground.
  • Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons in the foot or ankle can occur due to overuse. Boarding on hard pavement leads to hard landings, and the force generated to perform tricks lends itself to inflammation.

Foot Care Advice

Protective gear is more than just a helmet and some kneepads. We recommend skating in shoes such as Vans or Nike’s SB brand. These shoes are designed for extra padding and have durable soles. Also, wear socks to prevent blisters, and consider using ankle braces for added support.

This may seem like a challenge, but try skating in safer areas where the terrain isn’t uneven. Skate parks offer smooth grounding that reduces the risk of injury. You also have a better chance of learning proper techniques, which can teach you how to stay safe on your board.

Consult with Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Naghmeh Lilly Khavari, a respected professional who is dedicated to her patients in Denton, Dallas, and Collins Counties. Dr. Khavari treats a wide breadth of issues, from ingrown toenails to foot and ankle injuries. Call Carrollton Foot Center’s office (located in Carrollton, Texas) at (469)-998-3668 to schedule your first appointment today!

The Ankle Sprain and Arthritis Connection

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If you’re like us, you enjoy being active. Especially when we were younger, running and participating in sports that tended to be rough on our feet and ankles were a common past-time. For some people, this translated into experiencing one or more sprains or fractures in their lifetimes! When you experience one or more sprain or fracture, you run the risk of weakening the areas of your feet and ankles affected by that injury. For example, repeated ankle sprains can, over time, make you more vulnerable to future sprains and even more so to fractures.

This can be avoided by seeking professional rehabilitation services to help you recover from these injuries.  People who experience one or more fractures in their feet and ankles have a higher risk of developing arthritis in the affected bone or joint. If you have a history of ankle sprains or fractures and have now developed arthritis in the affected foot, it’s helpful to know how to tell the difference between a sprain and a fracture if you’re injured again in the future. This can help you get the right kind of treatment you need to recover better!

What do I look out for when it comes to sprains?

  • Inflammation and aching pain
  • Muscle spasms
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Muscle cramping

What do I look out for when I suspect it’s a fracture?

  • Inflammation and swelling
  • A significant amount of pain
  • Excessive bruising
  • A complete inability to bear weight

And what symptoms overlap, making it difficult to tell the difference?

  • Foot or ankle stiffness
  • Painful inflammation or aching
  • Swelling of various degrees
  • Bruising all over the affected area

For people with a history of sprains and fractures who have now developed arthritis in the affected foot or ankle, don’t wait any longer – schedule an appointment to have Dr. Lilly Khavari at Carrollton Foot Center assess the situation! Your long-term care and comfort matters. Call us at (469) 998-3668 to get an appointment with us in Carrollton, Texas.  We proudly serve patients in Denton, Dallas and Collin Counties.

Contact Us

We’d love to hear any question or concern you have.

4221 Medical Parkway
STE 450
Carrollton, TX

(469) 998-3668

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