SPORTS TIP
Foot Fault
The Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis juggernaut appears irresistible. Remember, Hingis’s promising singles career was cut short by a debilitating ankle injury. An ankle injury forced Dutch soccer star Marco Van Basten to quit the game. To combat the injury the usual protocol is proprioception, mobility and strengthening. However, at the outset one should check the foot arch. Over-pronation or flattening of the foot plays havoc on joint alignment. So, look to fix it with orthotics. Single leg stand on a balance pad or trampoline will increase the sense of balance and joint stability. Wall-supported rocking calf stretches work on mobility. Then, standing and seated calf raises, with heavy loads, will strenthen the muscles that move the ankle.
—Chinmoy Roy, Strength and conditioning coach
