SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- New York City is currently the epicenter of the tennis world, as the sport's top players from around the globe gather in hopes of claiming the fourth and final jewel in the 2018 grand slam crown – The US Open. Commentators will be discussing blistering backhands, sizzling serves and vicious volleys. Seldom, however, will the players' footwork be highlighted.
"Today's tennis isn't that of your grandmother," says podiatric foot and ankle specialist Diane Koshimune, DPM. "The power and athleticism of today's highly competitive game is light-years away from what it was just a decade ago. Those fantastic athletic feats on center court at the US Open require healthy feet.
"Tennis involves a great deal of foot work: quick acceleration, sudden stops and starts, twisting, pivoting, changes of direction, running backward, sideways and jumping during matches lasting three, four, or even five hours. This all puts the foot and ankle under tremendous stress and strain, making them susceptible to a number of foot and ankle-related problems for players," said Dr. Koshimune, a podiatric physician and surgeon on staff at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center in San Jose, California.
"Injuries on the tennis court range from simple to serious. Some are self-treatable, while others will require professional consultation with a podiatric physician. Some of the most common lower extremity tennis injuries include: ankle sprains, stress fractures, plantar fasciitis (inflammation of plantar fascia, a supportive, fibrous band of tissue running the length of the foot), Achilles tendonitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon), and Achilles tendonosis (degeneration of the tendon, which could lead to microscopic tears), tennis toe (a subungual hematoma, which occurs when blood accumulates under the toenail), corns, calluses, and blisters," Dr. Koshimune continued.
"The best treatment, of course, is prevention. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! It's a good idea to have your feet and ankles evaluated by a podiatric foot and ankle specialist before taking to the court. A podiatric physician can check for excessive pronation or supination (turning inward or outward of the feet and ankles), and if necessary, prescribe a custom orthotic device for insertion in the shoe to correct the imbalance. Proper footwear is critical in tennis, and a podiatric physician can provide expert advice regarding appropriate footwear. The right shoes, socks and foot care will keep your feet healthy and less prone to injury. Additionally, a foot and ankle specialist can also make recommendations regarding proper stretching and warm-up exercises to help prevent muscle and tendon pulls and tears or make them less severe," Dr. Koshimune concluded.
To find a local licensed podiatric physician visit http://www.calpma.org.
Founded in 1912, the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) is the leading and recognized professional organization for California's doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs). DPMs are podiatric physicians and surgeons, also known as podiatrists, qualified by their long and rigorous education, training and experience to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and structures of the leg.
CPMA: Doctors dedicated to keeping Californians on their Feet – Healthy, Active and Productive
SOURCE California Podiatric Medical Association
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