5 Sports Injuries That Affect the Feet

Your feet are made up of 26 small bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles, ligaments, and tenons that fit together like a puzzle. All these parts are under a lot of stress when you’re standing, walking, running, and jumping. Foot injuries are a common type of sports injury that can be very painful, and can seriously derail your training schedule.

Leonard Greenwald DPM, is a highly respected and experienced podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon with a top notch medical practice in San Jose, California. Dr. Greenwald, supported by his welcoming and competent staff, provides a full range of services focused on foot health. 

He has extensive experience in diagnosing injuries to the feet and ankles, and provides effective treatments that get you healed up and back to your sport as soon as possible.

Sports injuries can be painful and frustrating, taking you away from your game and causing you to lose your training momentum. These injuries have many causes, including rolling your ankle, running on an uneven surface, an awkward landing after a jump, and many more. Read on to learn about five sports injuries that can affect your foot health.

1. Ankle sprains or strains

A sprain is an injury to a ligament, which connects bones to each other at a joint. A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. With all the twisting and turning that happens during most sports, these are very common types of injuries. They can often be treated with rest followed by physical therapy to allow you to carefully strengthen the injured area to prevent re-injury. 

2. Achilles tendon injuries

Your achilles tendon is located around the back of your ankle, just above your foot. This tendon connects the muscles of your calf, in the back of your leg, to your heel bone. Overuse, typically by sudden increases in activity, can cause this tendon to become inflamed, a condition called tendinitis. This can typically be treated with rest, but more serious injuries to this tendon can cause tears which may require surgical repairs. 

3. Dislocated joints

A joint is where two bones meet, such as your elbows, knees, and ankles. The ends of the bones are cushioned by cartilage and the joint is stabilized by tendons that connect muscles to bones and ligaments that connect bones to bones. When the ligaments that support a joint, such as your ankle, are injured, you can suffer a severe injury called a dislocation. 

4. Plantar fasciitis

A very common type of injury, plantar fasciitis causes pain in a ligament that is located on the sole of your feet, connecting your heel to your toes. When this ligament absorbs too much stress, it can become inflamed, causing pain. Sometimes mild cases of plantar fasciitis resolve with rest, but a visit to your podiatrist can help resolve worse cases and prevent the pain from recurring. 

5. Heel spurs

Heel spurs are calcium deposits that can develop on your heel bone, causing persistent discomfort. A number of factors can contribute to their development, including the shape of your feet, the supportiveness of your shoes, running on hard surfaces, and conditions such as diabetes. 

If you’re experiencing pain or reduced range of motion in your feet or ankles, it’s important to get an examination by a podiatrist in order to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment. This allows your injury to properly heal and you to get back to your sport without re-injuring yourself. 

To set up an appointment with Dr. Greenwald, call our office today. You can also text us, or use our convenient online booking system any time.