Author : Barbara Wintroub, Retrofit Pilates Date: July 2, 2012 Website: http://retrofitpilates.com
Many picklers seem to be suffering from strain in the ligament that supports the foot’s arch. Repeated strain can cause tiny tears, swelling, terrible pain, bone spurs and inability to move on the court. This issue is more likely to happen if your feet roll inward
(pronation), you have high arches or you’re walking, running or standing for long periods of time on hard surfaces. Also if you’re overweight, not wearing supportive shoes or have tight Achilles tendons (calf muscles). Bad cases can last months. There are many treatments but not all work for all people.
1.
You need to give your feet a rest. How long is up to your feet; when they don’t hurt start back slowly. In the meantime work your upper body, learn to dink from everywhere on the court, but just don’t move around.
2.
Stretch. The pictures show how to stretch the front of your leg using a friend, who pulls gently on your toes. Then stretch your Gastrocnemius [half of calf muscle] with a straight leg, toes propped against a post. Stretch your Soleus
[other half of calf muscle] with a bent leg, foot position the same. Do not hang off a step. Finally, rub your foot over a tennis ball gently to stretch the fascia in the bottom of your foot.
3.
Take an anti-inflammatory if your doctor says it’s okay.
4.
Ice the foot no more than 10 minutes at a time, many times during the day.
Ease yourself back into the game. Stretch after you play, while you are sitting at your desk, whenever you can. Wear a heel cup in your sports shoes to cushion your heel strike.
Talk to your doctor if the pain persists. If you do not have heel pain do the stretches and ball work anyway because this is one tissue issue that’s hard to get rid of.
About Barbara Wintroub: Barbara makes her home in Palm Desert, California. As a member of the
BABY BOOMER GENERATION, Barbara is considered an “Active Aging Expert”. She is nationally ranked in three sports; Tennis, Pickleball and Paddle Tennis. Barbara has successfully completed a marathon on all seven continents, placing her in the 7 Continents Club, an elite group of 40 women worldwide who have achieved this goal. She has finished 60 marathons, two Ironman triathlons, two ultra

marathons and hundreds of short course races. She gives free lectures on osteoporosis through American
Bone Health.
Disclaimer: The material (including but without limitation, advice or advice and/or recommendations) in this website is provided solely as a general educational and informational purpose. It is neither medical nor healthcare advice for any individual problem. It is also not intended to be used for any medical treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers regarding your particular situation.