Professional athletes may be more susceptible to injury due to the years of repetitive stress from training and competition, but you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to experience a debilitating injury.

 

Some of the most common injuries seen by podiatrists include:

 

Ankle sprains and strains—When the ligaments and tendons that support the ankle joint become stretched to the breaking point due to excessive stress or injury, the result can be excruciating pain and severe swelling and discomfort.

 

Tendonitis—A number of tendons in the feet and ankle are susceptible to various degrees of trauma from overuse. The Achilles tendon, which is the large tendon that connects your heel bone to the calf muscle, is one of the most commonly affected. The peroneal tendons on the side of the ankle and foot can also become inflamed and painful from overuse and irritation.

 

Breaks, hairline fractures and bone bruises—While traumatic injuries like compound fractures do happen, a more common occurrence is the development of small, hairline cracks and bone bruising that can result from the repetitive stress encountered in sports like running, tennis, and football.

 

Some steps you can take to maintain strong and healthy ankles include:

 

  • The right footwear—Be sure to choose footwear for your specific activity. You wouldn’t want to wear running shoes on the tennis court, for example.
  • Orthotic supports and inserts—Properly designed and placed orthotic inserts and supports can correct and treat a variety of foot problems, including poor gait mechanics and unstable ankles. Moore Balance Braces are custom-made ankle/foot orthotics that provide stability and support and help prevent falls by minimizing abnormal ankle movements.
  • Strength and flexibility exercises—Be sure to add foot and ankle stretching and strengthening exercises to your warm-up routine to prevent injuries and promote balance.

 

If you have experienced an injury to your foot or ankle, contact a foot care specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. At Podiatry Center of New Jersey, Dr. Russell Samofal treats a variety of conditions such as sports injuries, diabetic foot problems, pediatric foot conditions, toe deformities, arthritis, nail fungus, arch problems and heel pain. Equipped with advanced technologies and a dedicated staff, Podiatry Center of New Jersey provides individualized high quality care for patients all across Morris, Passaic, Bergen and Essex counties. For all your foot and ankle problems, contact our Wayne office at (973) 925-4111 for an appointment.