Taking Up Jogging? Here’s Why You Should See A Podiatrist First

If you've decided to get into the sport of jogging, congratulations. You're taking literal steps toward improving your physical and emotional health. Before you lace up your running shoes, clip on your MP3 player and hit the road, it's advantageous to schedule a visit at a podiatry clinic like High Desert Foot & Ankle Clinic - Wonsik Y Bollmann DPM. A consultation with this foot health expert will help you ensure that you're properly suited for this form of exercise and will also decrease the likelihood that you'll find yourself on the couch nursing an injury. Here are three reasons that it's beneficial for new joggers to see a podiatrist first.

Diagnosis Of Any Unknown Foot Conditions

Even if you don't have any complaints about the overall health of your feet, you can still benefit from having a podiatrist assess them. He or she will look at each foot for signs of corns or calluses that might become sore once you begin jogging. Additionally, the podiatrist will check for issues such as heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, both of which can lead to serious pain when you're on your feet for prolonged periods of time. Beyond your feet, you can also expect the podiatrist to check the health of your ankles, given the strain this area goes through while you're jogging.

Gait Analysis

Many joggers immerse themselves in the activity without actually understanding the proper manner in which to run. Jogging with an unhealthy or unnatural gait can lead to repetitive-strain injuries that sideline you and prevent you from reaching your goals. Your podiatrist will often have you walk and jog on a treadmill so that he or she can evaluate whether your gait is correct. If there's an issue, you can learn the proper way to adjust your stride to avoid injuries.

Footwear Inspection

The last thing you need to do is take up jogging with running shoes that don't fit you properly or that don't suit the shape of your foot. People with high foot arches need different styles of shoes that those with flat feet, for example. Your podiatrist will ask that you attend the appointment with your shoes so that he or she can evaluate their fit. You'll learn if your shoes fit you properly; if not, you might develop issues with your toes. If the podiatrist feels that you would benefit from having shoe inserts made, you'll have your feet measured so that the inserts can be produced for you before you take up your new pastime.


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