August 2024 Newsletter: A Podiatry Perspective 

Olympic GoldSimone Biles, the world’s greatest gymnast, has made headlines with her incredible performance at the 2024 Olympics, despite dealing with a calf injury. Her resilience and determination are truly inspiring, and her story highlights the importance of proper foot and ankle care, especially for athletes.

Simone Biles' Calf Injury

During the 2024 Olympics, Simone Biles "appeared to injure her calf while warming up for the second round of qualifying events in the Bercy Arena," as reported by Emily Mae Czachor of CBS News. Despite this setback, she "delivered stunning and technically near-flawless performances" (Czachor). Coach Cecille Landi mentioned, "She felt a little something in her calf. That's all," indicating that the injury, although painful, wasn't enough to stop Biles from competing at the highest level (Czachor).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles)

Louise Radnofsky and Andrew Beaton from the Wall Street Journal highlighted Biles' determination, noting that she "hobbled through a lower leg injury for most of her qualifying round" and yet managed to secure top scores. This underscores her incredible ability to perform under pressure, even when not at peak physical condition (Radnofsky and Beaton). Despite her injury, Biles and Team USA won gold in the women's gymnastics team final (Czachor).

Bruce Y. Lee of Forbes explained that while warming up on the floor exercise, Biles "appeared to have injured her right leg" but continued to compete after medical evaluation. Despite favoring her left leg, she finished with top scores in the all-around competition, vault, and floor exercises (Lee).

The Role of Proper Foot and Ankle Care

At Sol Foot & Ankle Centers, we understand how crucial proper foot and ankle care is for an athlete's performance. Dr. Richard H. Graves, DPM, emphasizes the importance of addressing injuries promptly to prevent long-term complications. “Proper treatment and rehabilitation are key to preventing further injuries and ensuring a full recovery,” says Dr. Graves (Sol Foot & Ankle Centers).

Preventing and Treating Sports Injuries

Preventing injuries like Biles’ involves strength training, stretching, and wearing supportive footwear. Immediate and proper treatment is essential for those already injured. At Sol Foot & Ankle Centers, we offer advanced treatments like MLS laser therapy to speed up healing and reduce pain.

Common Running and Sports Injuries We Treat

  • Shin Splints: Pain along the shin bone from increased running and physical activity.
  • Plantar Fasciitis: The most common cause of heel pain, caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia.
  • Achilles Tendon Injuries: Common among athletes, these injuries can progress from small tears to larger issues causing scar tissue.
  • Ankle Sprains: Extremely common during athletic activities, ranging from minor to severe sprains.
  • Stress Fractures: Overuse injuries that result in small cracks in the bone.

Simone Biles' story is a powerful reminder of how important it is to maintain optimal foot and ankle health. If you’re dealing with any foot or ankle problems, don’t wait until it becomes a major issue. Call us at 562-433-0478 to schedule an appointment today. We’re here to help you stay on your feet and keep you doing what you love.

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