Injuries of the wrist and ankle both chronic and sudden can be problematic and extremely painful. Ankles are very useful for day-to-day activities, from walking to running and recurrent ankle injuries can permanently cause major damage to the ankle. Meanwhile, the wrist joint is one of the most complex parts of the human body. The wrist joint has 8 bones and a network of ligaments holding all of it together. Meaning a slight injury to the wrist can be difficult to correct and it’s important to visit an orthopedic hand surgeon immediately. This article is aimed at helping you keep your wrists and ankles strong and safe from pain and injury.
Use the Right Shoes
It’s important to wear the right shoes specifically designed for the activity you would be doing. For example, walking shoes cannot be used as running shoes, as these would not have the required support your feet would need when running. Wearing the wrong footwear could lead to injuries. More often than not, it is the ankle that is commonly injured in cases like this. According to the experts at www.CPOE.org, using ankle braces can help patients recover from ankle injuries. Doctors also use this to help patients strengthen their ankles to help prevent further injuries. Ankle sprains occur way too often, that is why it is important to take measures to help prevent this from happening and making sure you wear the right footwear is the first step to keep your wrists and ankles strong.
Don’t Place to Much Stress on It
If you subject your wrist or ankle to repetitive movements, you can get carpal tunnel or tarsal tunnel syndrome. These syndromes are common among those who put excessive strains on their wrists or ankles. If you are someone who is into playing sports then you are likely to experience this, but even everyday activities like typing and going for a run can lead to carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome. The best way to avoid this is by making sure you wear the proper footwear when going about your activities and to rest your wrist from time to time if your job entails you to type the whole day. There are also wrist and ankle exercises you could do to help keep your wrists and ankles strong and strengthen the ligaments and bones in these areas.
Remember to Stretch
To protect your delicate wrists, always stretch the muscles in your hands, forearms, and ankle before working out. While working, take time out to stretch your arms, wrist, neck, and leg. Your Ankles will equally benefit from stretching your legs. When you stretch your lower leg, your calves, Achilles tendon and shins will equally be stretched and relaxed. Additionally, strengthen the muscles in your lower legs with regular exercise to help keep your ankles stable and free of sprain injury. Appropriate strengthening of your body helps to build strength, and also increases your range of motion and mobility both of which will keep you from getting injured. Avoid writing or typing for too long, take time off work and stretch your wrist for a while before you return. It will help you to keep your wrists and ankles strong
Don’t Ignore the Pain
A lot of people, including athletes feel they should endure through the pain of an injury; especially if they feel like it’s just a minor one. Some people even try to completely ignore the pain, telling themselves that it will eventually go away. All injuries, minor or not, should not be ignored as this could lead to a more serious problem down the road. Getting proper treatment immediately is of utmost importance keep your wrists and ankles strong. The pain felt after an injury is actually an indication that there is a problem and in order for it to go away, one should protect that area from any further trauma. So, walking through a sprained ankle or ignoring the pain in your wrist is not a very good idea because this could cause long term damages that could have been easily avoided.
Most injuries are unavoidable and are often part of lives. More often than not, we actually get injured doing something we love or during activities we regularly participate in. However, there are still measures you can take to help lessen the impact injuries could have on you and your body. If you can’t it is advisable to stay away from any activity that puts your ankle and wrists in danger, and don’t go back to the activity until the pain is absolutely gone.
