Sports-Related Foot Injuries

Foot Injury Treatment in Southeastern Pennsylvania

Foot injuries are a common issue for athletes. Whether you play sports professionally or use them to blow off steam, these aches and pains are a major disruption to your life. Bux-Mont Foot & Ankle Care Centers are staffed with board-certified podiatrists who can diagnose the cause of your foot pain and set you on track for a quick recovery. Our podiatry clinics in southeastern Pennsylvania are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment that allows us to assess the source and extent of foot and ankle pains.

Common Sport-Related Foot Injuries

One of the most frustrating aspects of sports-related foot injuries is that you do not have to be in an accident to develop one. In fact, most foot injuries occur from wear-and-tear on the foot in an athlete’s training routine. Below, you will find a brief overview of some of the most common sports-related foot injuries:

• Stress Fractures – This is a small crack in the bone that can cause increasing pain the worse it gets. Sports activities that involve running and/or jumping place the foot at high risk for stress fractures. It is important to make foot strength conditioning a regular part of your workout routine if you play a sport like basketball or soccer.
• Heel Spurs – This is a buildup of calcium in the heel that creates a stiff protrusion. Usually painless, the longer they are left untreated the more likely it is the condition will worsen and cause discomfort. A podiatrist can usually treat these with noninvasive methods, but surgery may be necessary in severe cases. Athletes with flat feet have an increased risk of developing heel spurs.
• Plantar Fasciitis – The plantar fascia is a band of tissue in the arch of the foot that absorbs shock. When this tissue is overworked, it can tear and inflame, resulting in pain. This is one of the most common causes of heel pain and frequently affects female athletes.
• Achilles Tendonitis – The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel. It is used in walking, running, jumping, and most other foot movements and, therefore, has an increased chance of getting damaged when overused. Male athletes who run track and cross-country should be very careful not to exacerbate the Achilles tendon.
• Ankle Sprains – Athletes put a lot of strain on their feet, and even a small injury can be all it takes for the ankle to sprain. An ankle sprain typically occurs when the foot lands in an awkward manner and is twisted at an odd angle. This tears the ligaments in the ankle, forcing an athlete to take time off from their training to heal. A podiatrist can assess the extent of sprain damage and help expedite recovery time.