Ankle Sprains
A foot or ankle sprain is considered an injury to soft tissue that occurs when the ligaments that connect bone to bone are pulled, stretched, or torn. (A break in the actual bone is a fracture.) The most common ankle sprains occur on the outside of the ankle when the foot rolls underneath the ankle or leg. Home care (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, easy to remember as RICE) may help initially, but if you experience increased pain, swelling, bruising, redness, or difficulty walking, it’s time to see a podiatrist. Treatment may include immobilization, anti-inflammatory medicine, and perhaps a soft cast and crutches. When you’re ready to get back to your sport, warming up properly and wearing the right shoes for your sport may prevent a recurrence. The American Podiatric Medical Association suggests you replace athletic shoes yearly and replace running shoes every 300 to 400 miles.
Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone at the back of the leg. It mostly affects teenagers with aching and burning pain at the back of the lower leg, especially in the morning. Though the cause of Achilles Tendinitis is not well understood, it seems to occur after a recent increase in running intensity or participation in jumping sports. It may also be related to repetitive activities, improper footwear, posture problems, or running on uphill, uneven, or hard ground. Rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and stretching help to relieve the pain, but a podiatrist may also recommend orthotics, heel lifts, and/or sturdy shoes.
Running Injuries
Search on the Internet to find out about “running injuries” and you’ll be presented with a wide variety of options. Do you want to know about foot, knee, calf, ankle, lower leg, leg, heel, or shin injuries? Obviously, there are many ways to hurt yourself while running!
Basically, there are two main types of injury that runners — and other athletes — can sustain: acute injuries that result from a single harmful event, and overuse injuries, which are subtle and occur over a longer period of time.
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine points to these factors as a cause for overuse injuries:
Some people are more prone than others to overuse injuries. Imbalances between strength and flexibility around certain joints predispose individuals to injury. Body alignment, such as knock-knees, bowlegs, unequal leg lengths, and flat or high arched feet, also impact overuse injuries. Many people also have weak links due to old injuries, incompletely rehabilitated injuries, or other anatomic factors. Other factors include equipment, such as the type of running shoe or ballet shoe, and terrain — hard versus soft surface in aerobic dance or running.
Two of the more common types of overuse injuries are stress fractures and shin splints.
Stress Fractures
Runners who increase the number or intensity of workouts too fast may experience stress fractures in the lower leg or the instep of the foot. Stress fractures are small breaks or cracks in bones that are caused when muscles become fatigued and cannot support and cushion the bones as well as strong muscles can. The increased pressure on the bones causes them to crack. Stress fractures are among the most common sports injuries, especially for athletes who participate in sports that require repetitive pounding of the feet on the ground, such as running, tennis, gymnastics, and basketball. Women and teens are at higher risk for stress fractures, but fallen arches and worn-out athletic shoes can also increase the risk. The pain of a stress fracture may send you to a podiatrist, who may have advice about the intensity, duration, and frequency of your sport, as well as proper shoes and cushioning for your feet.
Shin Splints
Shin splints are another common overuse injury for athletes, with dull to extreme pain located on the inner edge of the shinbone (the tibia). They result from an inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue around the bone that comes with repeated and overworked activities. Runners who over-train on hills are especially susceptible to shin splints, as are those who wear the wrong shoes or worn-out shoes for an activity, and those who have poor biomechanics of the legs and feet. If you suffer from shin splints, a podiatrist may recommend orthotics and supportive shoes, as well as rest, ice, compression, anti-inflammatory medication, and flexibility exercises.