As jogging is one of the nation's favorite outdoor
activities, a few words of advice and caution should be given to the beginning
and serious joggers.
Although jogging is a great way to improve your fitness, it
is not intended for everyone. Persons under treatment for medical conditions or
those taking prescription medication should consult their primary care
physicians regarding their health status before starting a jogging program.
Proper warm-up and cool down exercises before and after
jogging are essential to both the novice and experienced jogger. These exercises
are intended to loosen muscles and help prevent cramps or injuries to muscles
and tendons.
Just as in any other sport, proper equipment is necessary
for better performance. For jogging, clothing should be loose and non-confining.
Shoes should be supportive, well fitted and adequately cushioned to help absorb
the stress in jogging.
Ideally the surfaces should not be hard and unyielding. A
word of caution: grassy areas sometimes have small potholes that can cause
tripping and falling, so one should be careful when using this kind of surface.
In cities, asphalt and concrete are almost unavoidable, and if one must jog over
these hard surfaces, asphalt is slightly less jarring. Sometimes cinder or dirt
running paths or cushioned synthetic track surfaces can be found at schools or
parks.
Patience is important to prevent jogging injuries. Begin
slowly and build up. Start with very short distances, perhaps no more than one
block, and increase gradually. Alternate walking and jogging to complete your
workout. This allows your feet and legs to develop and become conditioned to
this form of exercise.
Like any other sport, jogging can have related injuries. Early signs of trouble may include heel and arch pain, foot and leg fatigue or cramps, or inability to go beyond a certain distance. These often are indications of injury, improper stretching exercises, improper terrain or faulty training methods, such as increasing the running distance too much too soon. If pain and discomfort persist, then professional help from a podiatrist should be sought.
Can podiatric care help you? We make it easy to find out. Here's how....
The physicians and staff of the A Step Ahead Foot & Ankle Centers maintain two complete podiatric clinical facilities and provide 24-hour emergency service. We participate in most health plans including Blue Cross / Blue Shield, Medicare, and Medicaid. We complete and file all necessary insurance forms and make every effort to assure you of maximum benefits with minimum out-of-pocket expense.
You are invited to make an appointment today to relieve your foot problems by calling us at 970-493-4660 or 970-667-0769.
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Contributing Factors to Foot Problems
