Athletes are highly prone to foot and ankle injuries for a number of reasons. As an athlete, your feet and ankles are subject to a lot of wear and tear during play or while exercising to maintain good physical condition, which can lead to overuse injuries. If you play contact sports, you are also vulnerable to traumatic injuries from falls or contact with other players.
As an athlete, your sport is a very important aspect of your life, and getting sidelined by an injury is the last thing you want. Let’s talk about the most common foot and ankle injuries among athletes and where in Cincinnati you can go to receive top-notch treatment from medical professionals.
Turf Toe
Turf toe is a common injury among athletes, especially those who play on artificial turf. The condition is caused by the toe being bent upwards at an unnatural angle, which puts strain on the ligaments and tendons in the joint and leads to pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the affected joint.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. It’s often caused by overuse or repetitive stress on the tendon and can be extremely painful. While any sport that involves running or jumping can cause turf toe injuries, they are most commonly seen in football and soccer players. This is likely because these sports are often played on artificial turf, which provides a hard surface for the toes to strike against.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, from the heel to the toes. It’s often caused by overuse or repetitive stress on this tissue and can lead to severe pain in the heel or arch area. Athletes who do a lot of jumping or running are prone to developing plantar fasciitis.
Ankle Sprain
Ankle sprains occur when you roll, twist, or turn the ankle in an unnatural way, causing one or more ligaments, or the tissues that connect bones, to stretch beyond their limits or tear completely. This injury is extremely common in athletes who play sports that involve jumping or quick changes in direction, such as basketball. Depending on how severe it is, an ankle sprain can range from mildly uncomfortable to debilitatingly painful.
Fractures
Fractures involving any bones in the foot and ankle region are also relatively common among athletes due largely to high-impact sports or activities such as football and hockey, and running and jumping placing significant stress on these bones. Contact sports also cause a lot of body contact and collisions, and the external force may be greater than what the bone can take.
Sports injuries are not always preventable, but athletes should be treated by experts who can help speed up the healing of the injury and create a rehabilitation program that puts them back in the game better and stronger.
Foot and Ankle Surgeon in Cincinnati, OH
The team at Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care regularly treats athletes or weekend warriors with foot and ankle injuries. We have foot and ankle doctors with advanced training in sports medicine and can provide you with comprehensive, supportive care throughout your recovery. To schedule an appointment with us, call our podiatry clinic nearest you or use our online request form.
