Sports Can Be Rough on the Feet and Ankles

If you’re an athlete, you might have a favorite piece of equipment, and may even think of it as your most important gear. Maybe it’s a pair of sneakers, glove, or racquet. Actually, however, the most critical tool for athletic success is a healthy body. You need to be in top shape to compete. When you’re sidelined with an injury, it doesn’t matter how great your gear is. You can’t play well.

With over 25% of the body’s bones and more than 100 muscles, along with numerous tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissue structures, the feet and ankles are particularly vulnerable to injury. When you know what to look for, you can keep them healthy and ready to play. Common issues include:

• Pain from foot and ankle injuries related to sports

• Stress fractures, characterized by indistinct pain that begins slowly and progresses over time, or discomfort that becomes more acute during activity and subsides with rest

• Metatarsalgia, pain at the balls of the feet

• Sesamoiditis, inflammation or injury at two small bones in the bottom of the foot that is typically indicated by a sharp pain behind the big toe

• Blisters

• Redness or scaly patches that might mean fungal skin infections such as tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)

• Discoloration related to toenail fungus

Of course, the best step you can take to make sure that your feet are ready on game day is to visit a board-certified podiatrist.

Here at The Texas Foot Specialists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum provide expert and specialized care to address all of your foot and ankle needs. From conservative to advanced surgical treatments, you can always count on us for quality and compassionate care. Contact us online to make an appointment at one of our conveniently located offices in Sugar Land, Pasadena or Houston.