Healthy Feet -- Important for Fabulous Feats in the Olympic Pool
Healthy Feet -- Important for Fabulous Feats in the Olympic Pool
Watching the arms of the world’s swimming elite, such as Michael Phelps, Aaron Perisol and Natalie Coughlin, seemingly cut through the water at the
Beijing Olympics as effortlessly as a if it was melted butter, one tends to give little thought to their feet, which are working just as hard beneath the surface of the water.
“Most people understand the importance of strong and healthy feet for runners or any athlete who spends a lot of time pounding their feet on the ground,” says Daniel Altchuler, DPM, President of the California Podiatric Medical Association, a professional organization presenting over 1,000 podiatric physicians throughout
“Feet are important because they help propel the body through the water. It is important for swimmers to have good flexibility in their ankles for a wider range of motion and propulsion. The motion of the foot in both freestyle and backstroke is extension and flexion in what is called a flutter kick. In the fly (Butterfly), the foot flexes and extends also, but in unison, which is why it is often referred to as a dolphin kick. In the breaststroke, the kick involves rotation at the ankle as well as the flexing and the extending the foot.”
"Strong, healthy feet are also important for swimmers to get a fast start off the blocks and for pushing off the walls during turns. As almost any competitive swimmer can tell you, races are often won or lost on the speed and power of the start and turn.” (Please see sidebar on tips for marinating healthy feet for swimming.)
One of the most common foot problems swimmers face is cramping in the feet. Foot cramps during swimming are usually caused by excessive plantar flexion of the foot (pointing the toes). Altchuler notes the importance of properly warming up and gentle stretching of the foot before entering the pool to begin your workout routine. He also recommends relaxing your feet more during your stroke. “The most common foot and ankle injury is tendinitis of the extensor tendons at the extensor retinaculum (on the top of the foot and rear ankle), caused by repeated extreme plantar flexion in flutter and dolphin kicking,” said Altchuler. On examination, grinding can be felt and heard when the foot is passively dorsiflexed (elevated).
Treatment includes stretching and rest in the form of increased pull-buoy use. Pull-buoys placed between the thighs allow arm-only propulsion while the body is buoyant and in proper position. Another common problem swimmers’ feet face are infections such as Athlete's Foot and toenail fungus, which can be a source of discomfort and embarrassment with bare feet at the pool, so it's important to take measures to avoid contracting either, including wearing sandals/flip-flops when walking poolside or in the showers. (Please see sidebar on preventing and treating Athletes Feet).
More uncommon problematic conditions include foot contusions or "swimmer's heel" and mild ankle sprains from improper flip-turn technique. Another is slipping on the wet pool deck, which wearing sandals or flip-flops will help prevent.To help maintain healthy feet, Dr. Altchuler recommends that swimmers:
§ Do gentle stretches to warm up feet before entering the water to practice.
§ Wear shoes on the pool deck to reduce both the risk of foot injury and contracting foot and nail fungi and Athlete’s Foot.
§ Dry your feet thoroughly after swimming or showering.
§ Apply talcum powder or medicinal spray to previously infected areas to prevent recurrence.
§ Change your socks frequently and wash them frequently.
§ Try not to wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row (let them air out completely).
Information from
Athlete’s Foot
Found in damp places such as locker rooms, domestic bathrooms and swimming pools, this fungus also thrives in poorly ventilated areas such as the space between your toes. It can also be transmitted through towels and sweaty socks.
The signs of athlete's foot, singly or combined, are dry skin, itching, scaling, inflammation, and blisters. Blisters often lead to cracking of the skin. When blisters break, small raw areas of tissue are exposed, causing pain and swelling. Itching and burning may increase as the infection spreads.
Athlete's foot may spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails. It can be spread to other parts of the body, notably the groin and underarms, by those who scratch the infection and then touch themselves elsewhere. The organisms causing athlete's foot may persist for long periods. Consequently, the infection may be spread by contaminated bed sheets or clothing to other parts of the body.
Prevention
It is not easy to prevent athlete's foot because it is usually contracted in dressing rooms, showers, and swimming pool locker rooms where bare feet come in contact with the fungus.
Treatment
Fungicidal and fungi static chemicals, used for athlete's foot treatment, frequently fail to contact the fungi in the horny layers of the skin. Topical or oral antifungal drugs are prescribed with growing frequency.
In mild cases of the infection it is important to keep the feet dry by dusting foot powder in shoes and hose. The feet should be bathed frequently and all areas around the toes dried thoroughly.
Consult Your Podiatrist
If an apparent fungus condition does not respond to proper foot hygiene and self care, and there is no improvement within two weeks, consult your podiatrist. The podiatrist will determine if a fungus is the cause of the problem.
If it is, a specific treatment plan, including the prescription of antifungal medication, applied topically or taken by mouth, will usually be suggested. Such a treatment appears to provide better resolution of the problem, when the patient observes the course of treatment prescribed by the podiatrist; if it's shortened, failure of the treatment is common. If the infection is caused by bacteria, antibiotics, such as penicillin, that are effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria may be prescribed.
Your podiatric physician/surgeon has been trained specifically and extensively in the diagnosis and treatment of all manner of foot conditions. This training encompasses all of the intricately related systems and structures of the foot and lower leg including neurological, circulatory, skin, and the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.
For more information on foot care, visit the
call 1-800-794-8988.
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Healthy Feet -- Important for Fabulous Feats in the Olympic Pool
