Foot injuries are very common when playing sports. Some sports cause sudden injuries, such as soccer or football, while others cause overuse injuries, such as track and field. Regardless of the sport you play, your feet are susceptible to injury, therefore, it is important to take steps to safeguard yourself. This means wearing the right equipment when playing the sport, doing warmups every time you play, working your way up to strenuous play, taking frequent breaks between practice sessions, and most importantly, having an experienced podiatrist in your care team.
Below are some common sports-related foot injuries you should be aware of.
Fracture
When playing sports, you can easily fracture your foot. This occurs when you either fully or partially break a bone because of pressure applied to it. As soon as you break a bone, you will likely begin to have a throbbing pain along with swelling. The pain is likely to be worse when you put pressure on it by walking. Other signs of a fracture include tenderness, sensitivity to pressure, and bruising.
Another way you can fracture a bone is through overuse or over-stress. This means continuously weakening a bone by applying too much pressure on it over a period of time. This causes the bone to form tiny breaks that eventually leads to a bigger break in the bone. Stress fractures are easy to miss because they develop over time instead of happening after a sudden injury.
Plantar Fasciitis
Your foot has a band of tissue called plantar fascia that runs underneath it, from the heel to the front portion of the foot. It provides support for the arch and absorbs shock as you walk. When you repeatedly use it, you may notice that it begins to swell, becomes inflamed, and causes pain – especially when you stretch the tissue and tear it.
Certain activities are more known to cause plantar fasciitis, such as long-distance running. Dancers, especially ballet dancers, and aerobic exercisers are also known to have this issue.
Achille’s Tendinitis
Just like plantar fasciitis, Achille’s tendonitis is a repetitive stress injury. You have a band of tissue that runs from the back of your lower leg to the heel bone known as your Achille’s tendon. Sometimes, this tendon can swell and cause pain. The pain tends to start as a mild ache, but with repeated use, it can worsen. Sometimes, you’ll notice stiffness or tenderness upon waking up. It tends to improve as the day progresses, as long as you don’t put too much stress on it.
Some of the most common sports to cause tendinitis include long-distance running and sprinting. If you use a stair climber, you could develop Achille’s tendinitis, as well. The pain associated with Achilles tendinitis typically begins as a mild ache in the back of the leg or above the heel after running. You might also experience tenderness or stiffness, especially in the morning. Episodes of more severe pain may occur after prolonged running, stair climbing, or sprinting.
Keep in mind that you’re more prone to this injury as you age since your Achille’s tendon tends to weaken as you get older.
Bunions
A bunion occurs when one or more bones at the base of your big toe get out of place. As a result, the tip of your big toe pushes toward the toe beside it. The last joint of your big toe then protrudes, which causes a bony bump to form on the side of your big toe’s joint.
This issue can cause redness, soreness, or swelling around the joint. It can also cause pain and also limit motion in your big toe. It may make it difficult to find shoes that fit you comfortably.
Generally, bunions are an issue in people who wear ill-fitting shoes, particularly ones that are too pointed or too narrow in the front part.
Why Choose a Podiatrist from One of Our Southwestern Ohio Offices
If you’re looking for a foot doctor in Fairfield, Cincinnati, or various other locations in Ohio (and even in Lawrenceburg, Indiana), look no further than Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care. Our podiatrists can custom-design a treatment specifically for your sports injury.
Contact Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care today by calling one of our 17 locations in Ohio or our office in Indiana. You could also use our online appointment booking tool.
