What Every Athlete Should Know About Foot Injuries

Injuries to the foot and ankle are common among athletes, which makes them a cause for concern. If a foot or ankle injury isn’t treated properly, you can end up with permanent damage and instability. This is why it’s important that you educate yourself about the different types of foot injuries, seek help immediately, and follow through with rehabilitation. 

At Rocky Mountain Foot and Ankle Center in Evergreen and Wheat Ridge, Colorado, our team of expert foot specialists can diagnose and treat many emergent foot injuries that you might suffer as an athlete. Sports medicine treatments can get you back on your feet in no time.

Types of foot and ankle injuries 

When you’re running, jumping, and participating in any kind of physical activity, a lot of things can go wrong. Injuries to the feet and ankles are extremely common, and landing wrong or stepping on something hard can lead to a lasting injury. 

Most injuries can be traced back to three issues: 

• Torn, overextended, or damaged ligaments
• Broken bones or stress fractures 
• Tight or torn muscles and tendons 

Stress fractures are common in the small bones of your feet, especially if you spend a lot of time running or jumping. 

Ankle sprains are also frequent injuries, especially in soccer players or volleyball players. The severity of the sprain can affect your treatment and recovery time. 

Plantar fasciitis typically occurs later in life, and causes a tight pain in the bottom of the foot. This is a common condition in lifelong athletes.

Achilles tendonitis occurs in the tendons connecting the lower leg and heel bone. This causes an ache in the back of your leg, and can worsen into a ruptured tendon if left untreated.

These are just four of the most common foot or ankle injuries among athletes. If you’ve been hurt, there’s no time to guess at what happened. Coming to see us for immediate treatment can help you get a definitive diagnosis and increase your chances of a full recovery. 

The importance of immediate treatment

While the phrase “walk it off” is often repeated like a mantra in athletics, it’s not good advice for someone who’s just experienced a foot or ankle injury. In fact, continuing to move around can lead to further inflammation, pain, and damage. If you experience an injury on the field, it’s best to stop immediately and follow the RICE method. 

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are the best immediate treatments for foot and ankle injuries. Then you should meet with one of our doctors so they can diagnose the issue and decide on a treatment plan. As sports medicine doctors, we’re experienced in handling athletic injuries. 

Depending on your specific injury, your treatment might include regenerative medicine, surgery, and/or physical therapy. To learn more about your options, consult with our doctors at Rocky Mountain Foot and Ankle Center. Get in touch with us by calling the office closest to you or request an appointment online.