Some Common Foot & Ankle Injuries

While athletes and training junkies may be more susceptible to injury due to years of repetitive stress from intense training and competition, gentler exercise like jogging can lead to a debilitating foot or ankle injury.

Some of the most common injuries seen by podiatrists include:

Fractures and hairline cracks - Severe injuries like compound fractures can be quite obvious when they occur but a more common development is tiny cracks that often result from the repetitive stress encountered in sports and workout regimens. These can be difficult to pinpoint and detect without the help of your podiatrist.

Ankle sprains - Excruciating pain and severe swelling and discomfort can occur when the ligaments and tendons that support the ankle joint become overly stressed or broken. Surgery may be required in severe cases.

Tendon injuries - The Achilles tendons, which are the large tendons that connect your heel bones to your calf muscles, are frequently the source of pain and discomfort. There are also tendons on the side of your foot called the peroneal tendons that are often overlooked as the possible source of foot pain.

How to keep your ankles strong and healthy

Some steps you can take to have strong and healthy ankles include the following:

●      Supportive and properly fitted shoes - Always choose footwear for your specific activity so you don’t damage your feet by, for example, wearing running shoes on a squash court.

●      Orthotic shoe inserts - Orthotic inserts and supports can correct and treat a wide variety of foot and ankle problems. These range from poor gait mechanics and unstable ankles to bunions and hammertoes.

●      Mobility and strength training - Foot and ankle stretching and strengthening exercises are an excellent way to avoid and treat injuries and to foster better balance.

If you have experienced an injury to your foot or ankle, contact your podiatrist for the correct diagnosis and treatment. At Fit Feet for Life, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including heel pain, sports injuries, toe deformities, nail fungus, and plantar warts.  Bonnie Sanchez, DPM, and Gregory Cook, DPM, provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area at our five offices conveniently located in Sun City Center, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and our two Tampa locations. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.