Common Foot Injuries

Almost everyone has dealt with a form of bodily pain at one point in their lives, either from their regular routine or accidents during exercise. Very often we ignore our feet especially and underrate the pressure and troubles they suffer. From long hours of standing to running races or undergoing intense workouts, they go through a great deal. And if that causes an ankle sprain or blisters, foot injuries can stop you from engaging in many activities.

COMMON FOOT ISSUES

PLANTAR FASCIITIS

The plantar fascia is the strong connective tissue that goes from the heel to the bottom of the toes. If it gets damaged, you may experience pain while walking, standing or jogging. If you have heel pain that worsens early in the morning but reduces as the day passes, you may have plantar fasciitis. The pain can be stabbing or dull in the foot arch or heel.

Plantar fasciitis happens when you fail to stretch frequently, causing unusually tight hamstrings and calves, which will predispose you to plantar fasciitis. Exercises that place pressure on the heels like dancing and running may also be responsible.

STRESS FRACTURE

A stress fracture can be just as painful as breaking a bone. It technically means that there are small “cracks” in the bone, and they occur regularly in the legs and feet. The affected area will be inflamed and painful.

Stress fractures are usually caused by improper landing during sports, playing on hard surfaces or workout strain.

ANKLE SPRAINS

Your ankle joints connect to your feet and can twist easily if you land wrong or take a misstep. A true ankle sprain becomes apparent when the ankle becomes inflamed, stiff and painful. Ankle sprains occur because of damage to the ligaments inside the ankle.

BUNIONS

A bunion is a big bump on the joint of the big toe. Sometimes the skin on the bunion may redden or turn sore. This is often caused by wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes, arthritis or a genetic condition.

ACHILLES TENDINITIS

The Achilles tendon is the tissue band linking the calf muscles to the heel bone. Achilles tendonitis happens when this tendon becomes inflamed, resulting in minor pain close to the end of the lower leg, above the heel. If you feel pain in this area, it could be Achilles tendonitis.

TURF TOE

This condition happens when the big toe stretches or bends outside its typical range of motion. The pain worsens if you attempt to alter or turn the toe up. It is regarded as a form of sprain, and the toe may swell up.

HEEL SPURS

Heel spurs are a form of bone spur that happens in the heel. They are basically “additional bone” that develop above the normal bone and could cause discomfort when they rub against other bone or tissue. This is usually caused by tight ligaments when running, jumping or dancing. People with flat feet are prone to heel spurs.

FINAL NOTE

Most sporting foot injuries occur due to lack of preparation for a specific activity. Try to incorporate stretches into your exercise regimen to stretch and loosen tight ligaments. If injuries occur, ensure you seek medical attention immediately.

Request an appointment here: https://footdoctorinsanjose.com or call Leonard Greenwald, D.P.M. at (408) 827-9483 for an appointment in our San Jose office.