3 Common Fall Sports Injuries
Fall sports are in high gear, and at NY Foot Health, our podiatrists are seeing a rise in the number of sports injuries they treat in patients. Leg and foot injuries are prevalent at this time of year since many fall sports, such as soccer, track, and football, require running, quick changes in direction, and, sometimes, collisions.
Below are three conditions frequently seen in fall sports:
1. Shin Splints—this condition is due to the shins absorbing too much shock and results in severe pain on either side of the shin. It can be caused by a stress fracture, tendonitis, or ramping up an exercise routine too quickly after being sedentary. Changing your footwear to a shoe with better shock absorption in the tread and a more padded insole should help.
2. Ankle Sprains—a soft tissue injury that happens when the ligaments connecting bones in your ankle get overstretched. In sports, this can occur from repeated pushing off, a twisting or pivot move, or a trip and fall. Ankle sprains must be treated promptly and completely for full rehabilitation to occur. Discontinuing treatment such as physical therapy as soon as ankle pain is gone may leave a patient with a weak ankle more likely to be sprained again.
3. Achilles tendonitis—this inflammation of the long tendon that runs from the bottom of your calf to the top of your ankle bone can occur due to overuse or an injury. Not warming up and stretching properly before activity and overly aggressive training can cause tendonitis. Certain biomechanical issues may also make an athlete more susceptible to this condition, including having flat feet or tight calf muscles.
If you or a young athlete in your family experiences foot, ankle, or leg discomfort associated with a fall sport, you must stop playing and make an appointment to see your podiatrist as soon as possible. If you don’t currently have a podiatrist, you can find one in our online directory.
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