Winter wonderlands bring not only beauty but also fun winter sports. Skiing at a resort or skating across an ice rink make for great winter recreation, but don’t let foot and ankle injuries keep you inside.

Ice skating can bring fun for all ages and experience levels, but it can bring a lot of falls on the ice as well. Excessive falls can tear or sprain ligaments or tendons and even cause ankle fractures. Use caution on the ice and make sure your skates fit properly with the laces tight enough to give your ankles proper support.

Downhill skiers, cross-country skiers and snowboarders also risk injuries to their feet and ankles, including sprains, fractures and dislocations. We recommend that ski and snowboard boots are sized properly to your foot to give as much support as possible.

Ease into your activities. Whatever your sport, if you haven’t been active since last winter, start two weeks ahead of time doing specific exercises to condition the muscles you will use.

If you are injured, call our office for an evaluation. Whether you’ve suffered from a sprain or fracture, it’s important to get medical treatment promptly for both conditions. An ankle sprain can lead to chronic ankle instability if left untreated. If it’s a fracture, it’s best for healing if the bones are aligned correctly.

If x-rays show you don’t have a fracture, you may still have a stretched tendon or injured joint. These may worsen without proper treatment and could cause arthritis, tissue damage and problems with foot alignment. We can help head off these potential complications.

By taking care of your feet, you’ll be able to fully enjoy your winter sports!