Athletes are at a higher risk of developing an ingrown toenail because of the pressure put on their feet by physical activity. Ingrown toenails are painful, and often athletes will “push through” the pain to continue their sport. This is a bad idea, because the ingrown toenail usually will not heal if left untreated. Ingrown toenails can affect athletic performance and can be detrimental to an athlete’s career. One of the most important ways to avoid ingrown toenails is by choosing the correct footwear; this is especially important when buying athletic footwear.
Athletic footwear should be as comfortable and supportive as possible. Since sports puts so much pressure on the feet, this pressure should be as evenly distributed as possible. This will help avoid injury and foot pain. When choosing footwear for sports, make sure that the shoes don’t make any point on your foot feel more pressure than others. If you notice excessive pressure on some parts of your toe, this could potentially lead to an ingrown toenail. Excess pressure on the toes is common when footwear is too tight, or the toes aren’t wide enough. Make sure to buy shoes that fit well around your toes to avoid an ingrown toenail. If your athletic footwear is even slightly tight in this area, the problem will get worse with physical activity.
If you have an ingrown toenail, adjusting your footwear won’t solve the problem. At this point, the best thing to do is be seen by a licensed podiatrist. They will be able to treat the ingrown toenail, and recommend ways you can avoid them in the future. If you are an athlete, one of the most important steps for future prevention is to use well fitting shoes. To schedule your consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.