Keeping Your Feet & Ankles Safe for Spring Cleanup

After a long winter in Connecticut, the urge to get outside and tackle spring yard cleanup is strong. Reviving our lawns and gardens is rewarding, but it's also a time when podiatrists like us at PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center often see an increase in foot and ankle injuries. So, before you grab the rake and mower, let's talk about keeping your foundation – your feet and ankles – safe and sound as you work outside.

Why Spring Cleanup Challenges Your Feet & Ankles

Yard work can be just as much of a chore for your feet and ankles for reasons such as…

• Uneven Terrain: Yards, especially after winter thaw and spring rains, can hide tripping hazards like rocks, roots, holes, or leftover debris. A simple misstep on uneven ground is a leading cause of ankle sprains and strains.

• Repetitive Stress: Hours spent raking, digging, pushing a mower, or repeatedly squatting to weed put significant strain on the plantar fascia and the Achilles tendon, which can potentially lead to plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis.

• Heavy Lifting & Awkward Positions: Hauling bags of mulch, soil, or debris improperly can cause back strain, but also impact your balance, potentially leading to falls or awkward steps that injure feet or ankles.

• Ladder Dangers: Cleaning gutters or trimming branches often involves ladders. Falls from even short heights are a major cause of severe injuries, including heel bone fractures and complex ankle fractures.

• Hidden Hazards: Sharp tools, stray nails, broken glass, or sharp rocks hidden under leaves or soil can cause nasty cuts and puncture wounds, which carry a risk of infection.

Podiatrist-Approved Safety Tips for Spring Cleanup

With these potential injuries in mind, it's important to practice safety across all areas of yard work.

If you are using a ladder, ensure that it rests on stable, level ground, and use the "4-to-1 rule" for the correct angle (positioning the base one foot away from the wall for every four feet of ladder height). Always face the ladder while climbing, maintain three points of contact (two feet and a hand, or two hands and a foot), and never overreach—it's far safer to descend and reposition the ladder.

Wearing the right gear is also non-negotiable. Choose sturdy, closed-toe shoes that feature thick soles and provide good traction. Don’t wear old sneakers or sandals, and definitely don’t go barefoot to avoid cuts, ingrown toenails, scrapes, and infections.

But before even beginning your tasks, take a moment to scout your yard to identify and clear potential hazards like loose rocks, branches, hidden holes, or other debris.

At PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center, we treat a wide variety of foot and ankle ailments. Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and the rest of our team are ready to serve our Hartford County patients. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.