It is extremely common to suffer foot injuries while playing sports. When you’re on the court or field, you’re moving your feet continuously. All this movement makes your feet vulnerable to injury. In fact, certain foot injuries are more common in athletes than others.

Podiatrists understand how sports can impact the health of your feet, and as such, they diagnose and treat conditions affecting athletes all the time. Here are some common foot injuries incurred while playing sports.

Ankle Sprain

One of the most common injuries during sports play is a sprained ankle. This injury happens when the ankle twists suddenly and severely while you’re walking or running. This movement stretches the ligament that supports and keeps the ankle in its proper position. As a result, the ligament suffers micro-injuries that cause symptoms such as swelling, instability, bruising, and pain. In severe ankle sprains, the ligament can tear and require treatment.

Sprained ankles are very common in sports that require frequent and sudden changes in direction, such as volleyball, soccer, and football.

Achille’s Tendonitis

Achille’s tendonitis causes the band of tissue that connects the heel to the lower leg to become inflamed. It’s a common overuse injury. It tends to begin as a mild aching sensation above the heel or in the back of the leg. Usually, it causes stiffness or tenderness in the morning, which subsides later on in the day.

Achille’s tendonitis is an issue that commonly affects runners, in particular when they increase the length or intensity of their sport. People who play sports like tennis or basketball only a few days per week are also known to develop this issue.

Stress Fracture

A stress fracture occurs when you perform a task that pressurizes a bone enough to cause micro-injuries that eventually lead to a break in the bone. Unlike immediate fractures that develop when too much sudden pressure on a bone causes it to immediately break, stress fractures develop over time. Most people are unaware they have a stress fracture, because it develops gradually, never alarming the person that they have broken a bone.

A foot stress fracture is most often seen in long-distance runners. Stress fractures tend to develop in the second or third metatarsals – the long bones in the center of the foot that connect to the toes. A stress fracture can happen in the heel, as well.

Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia connects the heel to the toes. It can become inflamed when it is not given enough support, or if overused. People with plantar fasciitis most commonly feel intense, stabbing pain on the bottom of the foot, usually near the heel.

Symptoms are most common first thing in the morning, as you get out of bed. As the day continues, the symptoms will likely subside. For other people, physical activities can aggravate the plantar fascia, resulting in symptoms while you are active.

Runners and ballet dancers are prone to this particular injury. It is also common among those who stand all day or overexert themselves.

Why Choose Our Milford, Ohio Foot and Ankle Specialists for Sports Injuries of the Foot

While playing sports enriches our lives and keeps us healthy, there is no doubt that foot injuries are often a result. As such, the experts at Cincinnati Foot & Ankle routinely diagnose and treat foot injuries in athletes – both amateur and professional.

We have state-of-the-art technology and equipment to give you accurate and timely diagnoses, as well as effective treatments to get you back on the field or court as quickly as possible.

If you sustain a sports injury, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist at Cincinnati Foot & Ankle, serving many locations throughout southwest Ohio. Call us at one of our 18 locations, or use our convenient online booking tool.