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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!

Ready, Set, HIKE!

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Are you hoping to get out and about on the trails for a hike this summer season? If you haven’t already, start planning! Texas is fast approaching the time of year when hiking is best done very early in the morning or not at all due to the heat. There are several benefits to hiking when it comes to our health and wellbeing, however just like anything else, there are risks, too.

Hiking Risks & Benefits

Hiking can be an easy way to get yourself hurt. As an activity, hiking relies primarily on your feet and ankles to get you around the trails you’re exploring. Most instances of hiking related injuries happen to involve the person’s feet or ankles due to walking on rough, slippery, soft, or uneven terrain. When you’re out hiking, you are much more exposed to potentially harmful parts of nature: jagged sticks and rocks that can lead to cuts and scrapes, as well as poison ivy or insects that can cause intense itching, scratching, and potentially lead to infection.

If you ask us, the benefits outweigh the risks – especially when you take the time to prepare for these situations before going on a hike! There are plenty of ways we can prepare ahead of time to help make our next hiking trip even more safe and exciting:

  • Research your trails ahead of time. What terrains will you be walking on?
  • What’s the weather going to be like? Is it better to go early before it gets hot?
  • Have you purchased a first aid kit yet?
  • Will you have enough water, or access to refill your water containers?
  • Do you have a plan in case of emergency, like falling and hurting your ankle?
  • Are your shoes appropriate for your hike?

Sandals can be more comfortable and allow better airflow, but this leaves them vulnerable to insect bites, cuts and scrapes, and sunburn. We hope these questions you can ask yourself before a hike will help you be better prepared for your next adventure! Remember, any foot or ankle aches or pains that last longer than a day or two after your hike shouldn’t go ignored. Call us today at (469) 998-FOOT (3668) to set up an appointment with Dr. Lily Khavari at Carrollton Foot Center in Carrollton, Texas.  We proudly serve 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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