What To Watch Out For To Prevent Unnecessary Injuries

Engaging in sports will boost your health and fitness level. But what should you do to minimise and prevent sports injuries? Changi General Hospital organised a public forum recently for members of the public to share important information on common injuries in recreational sports.

Speakers Dr William Verhoeven, Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr Tan Jee Lim, Associate Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgery, Mr Axel Rohrmann, Podiatrist and Ms Millie Low, Physiotherapist equipped the participants with tips on how to protect your body against sports injuries.

Common Injuries

Foot and Ankle Injury - These injuries can include injuries to the bone or soft tissue. Injuries to the bone can take the form of fracture or dislocation while soft tissue injuries can include ankle sprain, tendon injury and heel pad injury.

Common causes include

- direct force
- twisting
- repetitive force

Knee Injury - Knee injuries are common injuries in the young and active but spare no age group. They are usually benign and self-limiting. However, it is wise to seek medical advice when the following symptoms develop:

a) Persistent pain for more than 48 hrs
b) Swelling for more than a week
c) Recurrent swelling
d) Locked knees
e) Instability

The function of running shoes is to protect the feet from the stresses of running, while permitting the athlete to achieve their maximum potential.

Shopping Tips for the Sports Shoes

1. Go to a shop with sales people who can identify your foot type and help you get the right shoe.
   
2. Buy your shoes at the end of the day when your feet are slightly larger from the day's walking.
   
3. There should be at least a finger space from the longest toe, usually the big toe, to the end of the shoe. This will prevent you from getting a black toe.
   
4. If you are comfortable with a particular brand of shoes, you should try and obtain another pair of the same make and model.
   
5. Don't run a marathon in a brand new pair of shoes. You should have worn them in first.
   
6. The shoes should feel comfortable the moment you put them on.
   
7. Make sure you lace your shoe properly before running. Lacing too tightly may hurt the top of your foot and cause an injury. While lacing too loosely will cause instability as your foot moves excessively in the shoe.

Flat or low arched feet - requires a shoe with much support and a stable shoe with good rear foot control.

High arched feet - requires a shoe with more shock ab-sorption, a narrower heel and defined arch supports.