Athletes, more than anyone else, put their feet through their paces and the result of this is of course an increased chance of causing an injury. Injuries in the feet can be caused over a long period of time or they can be the result of an impact, either way there is nothing which will whip you off your feet quicker than a painful injury. To explore this further we caught up with the manager of a podiatry clinic called Mod Pod Podiatry, an expert in all things feet, to find out what the most common foot injuries are, and how they are managed.
Achilles Tendinitis
The Achilles tendon in the ankle is one of the most common locations for an injury and it normally comes about through overuse of the foot. The Achilles tendon is the largest in the body and it is essential to our mobility and dexterity, this is of course why it is such a common injury. The best treatment for this is to stay off the feet wherever possible and to wear a support for future activities.
Plantar Fasciitis
There is a band of tissues which support the arch of the foot and they are responsible for absorbing the stress which we put on our feet. Naturally when they have absorbed too much stress for too long, they can become very strained, inflamed and cause problems at the base of the heel. It is said that almost 2 million people are treated for this every year, and the treatment which is used to manage the issue is a mixture of ice and physical therapy. Calf stretching is also beneficial for the treatment of mild Plantar Fasciitis.
Stress Fractures
A stress fracture is a very small crack in the bone, not a break or a large crack, but a very minor and incredibly painful chink in the armor. This is usually caused through poor technique, poor equipment or a lack of conditioning. Eventually these stress fractures will repair themselves but when it does occur it is important that no weight is put on the foot for a long time, until it has properly repaired. If someone with a stress fracture keeps on playing or running, it can grow in size and become a far more dangerous problem.
Neuroma
Neuroma is a pinched nerve in the foot which results in a numbness in the ball of the foot and pain in between the toes when walking. There is no exact cause of this but those with high arches or flat feet seem to suffer from it more. Overuse and stress on the feet are also contributory factors in neuroma. In almost all cases non-surgical treatment such as supportive footwear and corticosteroid injections are used to reduce symptoms which are caused and to increase strength and mobility in the foot.
There are of course many more conditions which may take place in the feet, but generally speaking these are the most common amongst athletes.
