400 W. Arbrook Blvd., Suite 201
Arlington, TX 76014
(817) 467-1990
Mansfield
2800 E. Broad St., Suite 312
Mansfield, TX 76063
(817) 842-9100
The sport of basketball involves placing a tremendous amount of pressure on both the foot and ankle. Injuries that occur on the court are mainly caused by landing improperly from a jump or twisting the ankle during a fall. These types of injuries cause ankle sprains, muscle tears or strains, ligament ruptures, and bone contusions or fractures. These types of injuries can be difficult to prevent, especially with the high-impact nature of the sport.
Wearing proper shoe gear that supports and stabilizes the ankle (high tops) with good shock absorption is recommended for basketball and may prevent some of the minor injuries. Basketball shoes should be replaced every 2-3 months before the soles become worn in active players. Playing on indoor wooden courts, as opposed to asphalt or concrete courts, allows for more shock absorption.
If you are hurt playing basketball, we strongly advise you to stop playing immediately and address the injury. You should complete the “RICE” treatment at courtside which consists of the following:
- Rest: stop playing immediately and do not resume until you are pain-free
- Ice: placing ice on the area will decrease the amount of swelling and pain
- Compression: ACE wraps should be applied soon after the injury to minimize swelling
- Elevation: elevate the injured area above heart level to keep fluid from pooling
in the area
You should have all injuries, sprains, strains, or breaks evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist to avoid long-term complications and minimize time-out of play.
Chronic foot and ankle injuries associated with basketball include Achilles tendonitis, sesamoiditis, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, shin splints, and recurrent ankle sprains due to instability. These can be minimized by proper shoe gear, adequate warm-up and conditioning, and by seeking medical care when pain begins.
An adequate amount of warm-up before play is needed to ready the muscles and ligaments for vigorous activity. By warming-up, you are increasing the amount of blood and oxygen to the muscles for better performance. Stretching before and after play is very important and may mean the difference between a muscle strain or a muscle tear.
Chronic, over-use injuries should be addressed and not ignored. Ignoring recurring aches and pains of the foot and ankle can lead to further acute injuries.
Whether you enjoy a relaxed bike ride, spin classes, or are an enthusiast riding a significant amount of miles per week, most cycling-related overuse foot injuries can be avoided by wearing appropriate shoes. In order to spin the wheel by pushing the pedal, a significant amount of weight must be transferred from the foot to the pedal. In order to do this without placing too much strain on the arch of the foot, the shoe should have a stable shank. Use of clips or cleats for cycling, help more efficiently transfer power.
With any sport, it is important to stretch (before and after) the muscles that are going to be functioning during the activity. For cycling, these muscles include the gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves. The most common injuries encountered due to cycling are caused by overuse.
Sesamoiditis is inflammation surrounding two small bones on the bottom, inside ball of the foot. Although rare, fractures of these bones can occur when a direct force is placed on them. Orthotics and appropriate cycling shoes can alleviate pain associated with sesamoiditis.
Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon located in the back of the leg attaching to the heel. This is mainly caused by improper technique or overuse. Achilles tendonitis should be treated by resting from the cycling activity and heel lifts could also be beneficial.
Arch pain may be encountered where the foot is in contact with the pedal. If the shoes worn are not stable enough along the sole of the foot, the foot will collapse onto the pedal. This could cause pain both during and after the ride and can easily be avoided with the correct shoes.
Just like any other sports activity, it is important for a player to warm-up prior to a game. Baseball involves quick starts and stops and in order to play optimally the muscles that are being recruited to perform after rest need to have been stretched prior to the start of the game. Without warming-up (catching, running, stretching) a player would be expecting muscles to react quickly from rest, and that places a higher strain and risk of injury on the muscle. Imagine an outfielder who has not seen action in the first three innings of a game and did not warm-up. If a ground ball is hit to this player and they have to throw it home, that is a lot of demand on the body. It is taking the body from a cold, resting point to a quick reaction.
Shoe gear with baseball typically means some form of cleats or spikes. There are advantages and disadvantages to wearing these types of shoes and their increased purchase of the ground. Any quick twisting motion of the ankle with the foot firmly planted and engaged could cause an ankle sprain. Therefore, cleats or spikes should be introduced gradually before game-time in order for a player to become acquainted with disengaging the cleats from the ground before twisting motions.
Sliding improperly could cause significant injury to the leg, knee, ankle, and/or foot. When the body hits a stationary object, there is a tremendous force pressed back against the body. This force could cause sprains, fractures, dislocations, and contusions. Sliding must be taught and performed in a safe manner to avoid such injuries.
Overuse injuries are of concern for any position in which there are repetitive motions. Regarding the foot and ankle, the pitcher and catcher are at risk for these types of injuries. A catcher is squatting a great deal of the time and this could cause extreme strain on their arches. This can cause plantar fasciitis to develop in which a band of tissue that attaches to the heel and runs along the arch becomes tight, causing heel pain. This should be evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist and treatment started. Pitchers are also at risk for overuse syndrome in the foot from stepping down off the mound during a pitch repetitively.
An acute injury common in baseball is an ankle sprain. This can occur if the player pivots the leg on a foot that is stationary on the ground or by sliding into a plate. Ankle sprains can be a serious injury with long-term complications if left untreated, or worse the player continues to participate in the sport during the recovery period. The ankle bones are supported by a collection of ligaments that stabilize motion at the joint. They are also important in maintaining balance. With an ankle sprain, one or more of these ligaments could be torn and if not treated appropriately never return to normal function. This can lead to chronic ankle instability and recurrent ankle sprains. If a player sprains their ankle during play, the following “RICE” treatment needs to be initiated without delay.
- Rest: must come out of the game and place no weight on the ankle
- Ice: this will minimize the amount of swelling and pain
- Compression (Ace wraps): minimize the swelling and pain
- Elevate: above heart level the ankle so as to avoid pooling of fluid
Baseball can be an extremely demanding sport on the foot and ankle, especially because of the quick starts and stops. There is a high propensity of ankle problems that occur because of cleats/spikes or sliding inappropriately. If an ankle or other injury occurs, it is in the best interest of the player to seek evaluation and treatment immediately, to avoid an unnecessary delay of return to play.
In the last 15 years, cheerleading injuries have nearly doubled in this nation. Of these injuries, almost one-half involve the leg, ankle, or foot. As cheerleading becomes a more competitive sport, the gymnastics and other skills become increasingly harder and more dangerous. Cheerleading involves significant falls from heights. An example of this would be a fall from a pyramid or falling to the ground after being stunt tossed into the air. This can cause significant direct injury to any part of the body and any injury sustained from a height of greater than 5 feet should always be evaluated by a physician.
Power tumbling can also lead to serious injuries if there is a loss of balance or a misstep. Obvious injuries can occur to the head, body core, arms, and legs. Common injuries to the foot and ankle secondary to cheerleading include ankle fractures, toe fractures, metatarsal fractures, heel fractures, ankle sprains, Achilles ruptures and tendonitis. When considering the injuries that traumatically occur with cheerleading, it is important to have any injury evaluated.
Overuse injuries are also prevalent with cheerleading, especially when considering the amount of gymnastics now involved in this sport. Achilles tendonitis is a common condition and must be treated with rest to ensure it will not lead to a rupture of this tendon. Calcaneal apophysitis is also a condition commonly seen with younger adolescents involved in gymnastics. This is characterized by heel pain occurring where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel. In young people, the heel bone has not yet fused together and the tendon is actually attached to piece of bone separate from the main heel until the two fuse together. If there is a lot of motion between these two pieces, which can occur with strenuous activities, then this causes heel pain. All heel pain in younger individuals should be evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist.
In addition to the strenuous demand of cheerleading is the time commitment to the activity. Most sports are not year round and occur in 3-6 month increments. However, cheerleading is a year-round activity and because of this there is little time to recuperate and condition. Another overuse injury common in cheerleading and gymnastics is a stress fracture. It is a myth that this is not a true fracture. It is and it is caused by repetitive motion instead of one traumatic event. Stress fractures need rest to heal just as any other fracture, usually around 6 weeks.
Golfing can be an enjoyable sporting activity, if your feet do not hurt and your game is not suffering because of it. Golf shoes are an important in determining the health of your feet while out on the golf course. If you walk the course as opposed to riding, shoes become even more important. Just like any other sport, if your feet hurt during or after a round of golf, then there is a problem that needs to be addressed. The first thing to evaluate would be the type of shoe gear that is being worn for the game. Shoes for golf used to a more fashionable than practical. Over the last decade, the style of shoe has changed from a wing-tipped oxford to a more athletic shoe. Metal spikes used to be predominant in the game, however today more of a cleat-like shoe is worn. Cleats allow a player to purchase the ground well during the torque of the swing.
When purchasing a shoe for golfing, one should consider the following. Are you able to not only walk around the store with the shoe on without experiencing pain, but could you walk the whole course with having pain? If they are uncomfortable in the store, it is guaranteed that a round in the shoes could lead to blisters, irritation, and sore feet. Prior to purchasing the shoe, go through a golf swing a few times to ensure that with that type of torque, the shoes remain comfortable and stable. Graphite shanks can be found in some types of golf shoes and allow for a lightweight shoe along with a stable shoe to transfer power to the club from the body.
Golf is a sport for any age. As the age of golfers increases, so does the risk for tendonitis related to the foot and ankle. When someone ages, the collagen in the tendons decreases and the substance of the tendon degenerates. This places older individuals more susceptible to tendon strains and ruptures. Dependent on a golfer’s swing, the lay-out and terrain of the course, walking as opposed to riding, the tendons affected can differ. The best advice to adhere to is that if you experience any muscle pain or fatigue while golfing, take a rest. If it continues, see a foot and ankle specialist. What you could need is custom-made orthotics to place your foot in the optimal position for walking and swinging and allow it to function maximally. The orthotics would help correct any mechanical problems and allow for a more enjoyable round and possibly a lower score.
Soccer is a very demanding sport on the body, both during a game and in preparation for the game. The hours of practice prior to any competition involves repetitive drills and running. This lends a soccer player more susceptible to overuse injuries that can lead to chronic conditions. Just like any sporting activity, stretching during the warm-up to practice or a game, is essential to maintain the health of the body. Stretching prepares the muscles and ligaments for the work that they are about to do and allows for more blood availability to the muscles and joints.
Overuse injuries that are common in soccer players include: tendonitis (especially of the Achilles and peroneal tendons) and stress fractures. Inflammation of a tendon can be a result of overusing the tendon causing strain and fluid to accumulate around the tendon. If not properly cared for, continual play with an inflamed tendon can lead to a partial or full rupture of the tendon. For this reason, any pain associated with the location of a tendon or when activating and using a tendon should be properly evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist to avoid long-term damage. Stress fractures can also be caused by overusing certain areas of the foot. A stress fracture is a fracture of the bone and should be taken seriously. Just like any other fracture, it requires that time be spent recovering and resting in order for the bone to heal.
Traumatic, acute injuries are common on the soccer field. While soccer is not considered a contact sport, the foot and ankle are consistently stepped on, kicked, jammed, twisted and used to as the contact area to propel or stop the ball. This places them a great risk of being injured during play or practice. Ankle sprains and fractures can occur doe to the twisting motion of the ankle in order to pivot and change directions quickly. Cleats are often worn on the field and this places the ankle in further danger, because they place the foot in more contact with the ground. If any trauma to the foot or ankle occurs, this player should stop playing immediately and address the situation with the “RICE” treatment.
- Rest: stop playing in order to limit the damage that occurs
- Ice: place ice on the injury to limit the amount of swelling and pain
- Compression: use ACE wraps to compress the injury, limiting the pooling of
fluid in the area
- Elevation: elevate the injury above heart level to decrease swelling and pain
Have the injury evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist to help avoid any long-term damage and to minimize the delay before returning to the sport.
Tennis is a sporting activity where it is important to have good, controlled side to side motion on the court. The demand on the body depends on the competitive level and can range from a fun, relaxing game to a fast-paced competitive match. With any sporting activity, it is important to stretch prior to and after a match or a practice. Stretching allows the muscles to have the blood needed for a higher demand available at the beginning of any activity. It also minimizes the risk of injury to muscles and tendons that can be caused by a tight muscle being strained. Stretching after a match minimizes the stiffness of the muscles after the activity.
The type of court can impact the risk of injury to the foot and ankle. Clay or fast-dry courts are the safest for play because they allow for easier lateral motion. Asphalt or concrete courts are the hardest on the lower body because they do not provide any cushion or give with play and make it harder to perform lateral motions.
Shoes are also an important consideration for playing this sport. The shoes worn should be specifically designed for tennis. This shoe type allows for more side to side motion within the shoe, mild to moderate traction, and padding at the toes to avoid toe injuries. Other types of shoes may have too much traction and cause injury when going through the quick stops and starts needed for this game.
Common injuries that occur with the game of tennis involve overuse injuries such as plantar fasciitis, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, and stress fractures. The more common acute and traumatic injuries involved are collections of blood underneath the nail (tennis toe) and ankle sprains. Any overuse injury should be addressed as soon as the player starts to have discomfort. Shin splints and Achilles tendonitis involve overusing tendons and a player should rest and modify activity accordingly. To eliminate shin splints, custom-made orthotics may be needed to prevent stress on the anterior muscle groups of the leg. Plantar fasciitis is a tightening of a band of tissue that runs along the arch of the foot and when inflamed will cause heel pain. Simple stretching, cortisone injections, and shoe gear modification could alleviate this condition.
Tennis toe is an injury to the end of the toe from repetitively stopping and starting on the court which causes pressure at the nail bed. It is a collection of blood underneath the nail and can be very painful. If it is a small collection, less than 25% of the nail, it may be relieved with an ice pack. If it involves more than 25% of the nail, it may need to be drained in order to relieve the pressure and pain. Ankle sprains are also common on the tennis court because of the pivots and quick movements required to play the game. With any ankle sprain, ligaments that support your ankle can be damaged and this type of injury should be treated and evaluated immediately. If a sprain occurs during play, stop immediately and start the “RICE” treatment and then see a foot and ankle specialist.
- Rest: stop playing in order to limit the damage that occurs
- Ice: place ice on the injury to limit the amount of swelling and pain
- Compression: use ACE wraps to compress the injury, limiting the pooling of
fluid in the area
- Elevation: elevate the injury above heart level to decrease swelling and pain
Running is runner dependent when it comes to the specific injuries that can occur. Most injuries with running are caused by overtraining. The beginner runner must have a plan that involves a gradual increase, over a three to four month period, of distance and speed. An experienced runner can make it look easy and the misconception amongst new runners is that they need to overwork themselves at first until they become accustomed to the activity. Running is very hard on the muscles, joints, and bones of the lower body. . During a mile run, a person averages 800 steps with about 4 times their body weight on each foot. The occasional ache and pain is to be expected, but not ignored.
Shoe gear for a runner should be specified according to the foot type and the terrain that is being covered. A person running on concrete would want a different shoe than someone running on more natural terrain, such as dirt, rocks, sand, or grass. A good rule of thumb is to purchase your shoes at a store that specializes in running or has well-trained associates who can cater to runners. The shoe that is right for your foot depends on the shape of your foot (flatfoot or high-arched). People with flat feet tend to role their feet inward and need support on the inside of the foot to prevent injury. People with high-arched feet tend to role their feet and ankles outward and need support to prevent ankle injuries. Shoes should be changed every 250 miles to maintain an adequate amount of shock absorption.
Stretching is extremely important for runners. The posterior muscle groups of the leg (calves, hamstrings) tend to become tight while the muscles on the front of the leg become weak. This can lead to shin splints, especially if running up hills. For this reason, special attention should be made to stretching the calf and hamstrings and strengthening the muscles of the front leg. Don’t forget to stretch after running to prevent stiffness and soreness.
If you are running in neighborhoods and tend to run in a circle, it is important to change directions of the run every few days. Most streets are designed in a way to slope down towards the curb for drainage purposes. Therefore, if you always run the same route and it is through a neighborhood, you might be putting more stress on the leg closest to the curb. For this reason, change the direction of your run every few days.
Any ache that occurs in your foot and last for more than a few days or limits your normal activities should be evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist. It is not uncommon for a runner to develop a stress fracture or a muscle tear from the activity. These two conditions, along with others, should be treated immediately so as to allow the safest and most efficient recovery.