Why Gymnasts Need a Podiatrist

Competitive gymnastics is one of the few sports that requires its athletes to perform barefoot. Gymnasts also need to cope with the demands of jumping, landing and springing on different apparatuses. Your poor feet and legs will sure take a beating through your training sessions; tumbling connections and hard dismounts can cause 10-14 times your body weight of force through your feet.

There are 28 bones in the foot, and over 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons which are designed to help spring off for a leap as well as stabilise a landing.

Injuries in gymnasts are often characterised as ‘overuse’ and are often a result of underlying biomechanical features that create stress through tendons, muscles and bones. There’s nothing worse than a recurring injury to slow your progress towards achieving your goals.

Our Podiatrists at The Foot and Ankle Clinic can help to screen for potential risk factors of injury, implementing strengthening programs and reducing the risk of developing an overuse injury. Should you be already injured, this can be assessed and treated with a personally designed program to prevent its recurrence.

Common Gymnastics conditions include:

• Inversion ankle sprains
• Posterior Heel Pain (Sever’s Disease)
• Arch Pain
• Lateral foot pain
• Anterior Knee Pain
• Shin Splints
• Rehabilitation from fractures and muscle tears

Lower Limb injuries occurring in Gymnastics are often complex and can reoccur due to poor biomechanics, muscle imbalances, posture and a history of the previous injury. It’s a good idea to get on top of injuries before they occur!

At the Foot and Ankle Clinic our highly qualified team of Podiatrists are all members of the Australian Podiatry Association and offer a combined 50 years’ experience. They are trained to diagnose and effectively treat gymnastic injuries via a range of treatments.

Put your feet in our hands! See us today in Chadstone, Moe, Sale, Traralgon, Warragul & Online Store and Retail Enquiries. NO REFERRAL NEEDED!.