Seasonal Transitions in Athletic Activity

As winter turns to spring, many people transition from indoor to outdoor training and athletics. These transitions are a common period for foot and ankle specialists to see an increase in acute injuries that many times could have been prevented. Consider the following tips when making any transition in athletics or conditioning:
1) Indoor terrain is different from outdoor terrain. Running a 7 minute mile for 30 minutes on a treadmill subjects the body to stresses and strains that are different from this same workout on concrete or an uneven woodland trail. Consider reducing the duration, intensity or both of a routine workout by as much as 50% with any tranistion and gradualy increase your workout back to 100% over the course of several weeks to avoid acute injuries that could potentially limit your performance for the entire season.
2)Not all conditioning translates well into athletic performance. Being able to run a 7 minute mile for 10 miles on a treadmill does not directly translate into being conditioned to play 1 hour of competive soccer after not playing in the offseason. Cardiovascular conditioning is different from the unique musculoskeletal conditioning required for many sports. The message again. Transition slowly when resuming competitive sports.