Court Woes and Rink Risks: Common Foot and Ankle Injuries in Basketball and Hockey
Hitting the hardwood or gliding across the ice? Basketball and hockey can be fun and exciting, but with that excitement comes the potential for painful foot and ankle injuries. New York Foot Health wants you to stay active; after all, podiatric well-being and physical fitness are hardly mutually exclusive!
Fortunately, understanding the most common culprits can help you keep your game face on. That’s why we’ve decided to devote this post to some frequent foul-ups that these sports can lead to. Game on!
Basketball Buzzers
Stay on your toes while shooting hoops to sidestep these foot and ankle aches.
Ankle Sprains: The undisputed kings of courtside injuries, ankle sprains result from a sudden rolling or twisting motion. In basketball, jumping, landing, and quick changes of direction are prime culprits. Lateral ankle sprains, where the ankle rolls outward, are the most common.
Plantar Fasciitis: This inflammation of the connective tissue in the sole causes stabbing heel pain, especially in the mornings and after periods of rest. Overuse, tight shoes, and poor arch support are major contributors.
Achilles Tendonitis: Repetitive jumping and running can overload the Achilles tendon, leading to inflammation and pain at the back of the heel or up the calf. Ignoring it can escalate to a partial or even complete tear.
Hockey Hurts
High Ankle Sprains: Unlike basketball's lateral sprains, hockey players are more prone to high ankle sprains, affecting the ligaments above the ankle joint. Sudden changes in direction or catching a rut with the skate blade can trigger this painful injury.
Lace Bite: This pesky irritation arises from friction between the boot and the extensor hallucis longus tendon, resulting in pain and inflammation across the top of the foot. Improperly tied laces or ill-fitting skates can be the culprits.
Fractures: The high-impact nature of hockey increases the risk of fractures, particularly in the toes and metatarsals (midfoot bones) from collisions or direct puck strikes.
Don’t sit on the sidelines wondering what you can do to treat these issues! To find podiatrists near you, consult our online directory. And when in doubt, feel free to contact us! It also can’t hurt to subscribe to our free e-newsletter.