Football Foot and Ankle Injuries: How to Tell When It’s Time to See a Podiatrist

Our Caldwell Podiatrists Help You Decide When It’s Safe to Hit the Turf

Football players of all ages face big risks every time they take the field. Few parts of the body take more of a beating than the legs, feet, and ankles. But you don’t have to let a sports injury make you second-guess whether you’re still fit to practice or to play. Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle’s skilled team of podiatrists has decades of experience treating a wide range of football-related conditions, so trust us to provide the quality care and treatment you need to get back in the game.

Most Common Football Foot and Ankle Injuries

Even with the right training and the highest-quality equipment, football players can’t always stop their legs, feet, and ankles from suffering the consequences of intense activity. Here are just a few of the conditions we treat in our Caldwell and Meridian offices.

Achilles Tendonitis

This problem, sometimes spelled tendinitis, is an overuse injury that affects the thick band of tissue connecting your calf muscles and heel bone. Its symptoms are typically characterized by a mild ache that becomes more severe and worsens after episodes of physical activity. In general, Achilles tendonitis is most often diagnosed in joggers, sprinters, and football players—especially running backs and any other players who make speed one of their top priorities.

Achilles Tendon Ruptures

More severe than tendonitis, this injury is actually a tear to or within the tendon. If your Achilles tendon ruptures, you might notice a “popping” sound followed by immediate pain along the back of your leg. It may also be more difficult to “push off” the injured leg, and feel like somebody kicked you hard in the calf. Even if you’re used to working through pain, these ruptures can still make walking difficult.

Ankle Sprains

This is a frequent injury suffered by football players and other people who play contact sports, especially those involving the use of cleats. Most football players can identify an ankle sprain by themselves, but its symptoms are profoundly influenced by its severity. Some sprained ankles are easy to ignore, while others can make it difficult to bear any weight on the injured foot.

Jones Fractures

Jones injuries are one of the most frequently reported football-related injuries and are typically caused by regular and repeated periods of intense exercise. It’s a fracture of your fifth metatarsal or the largest bone of your pinky toe. These breaks are often painful and may cause noticeable bruising and swelling around the injured bone. Most Jones fractures require a minor surgical correction to heal properly.

Lisfranc Injuries

Your Lisfranc joint is a set of interconnected bones and ligaments in the midfoot, which stabilizes the arch and helps with load-bearing and load transference. Football-related Lisfranc injuries can involve a broken bone, a sprained ligament, or a dislocation. In general, your risk of sustaining Lisfranc injuries is higher if you regularly kick or punt. Treatment options largely depend on which part of the Lisfranc joint was damaged.

Turf Toe

Turf toe is a sprain of the metatarsophalangeal, or big toe, joint. It’s a common injury associated with football players who typically push off from their toes when breaking into a run or sprint. Most of the time, turf toe only causes mild symptoms of pain and stiffness for a couple of weeks, so rest, icing, and over-the-counter pain medications help reduce inflammation and promote healing. It might also help to immobilize the toe during this time.

However, don’t ignore the pain if it lasts longer—if left unresolved, this condition could cause a permanent loss of push-off strength as well as long-term deformity.

Don’t Fumble Your Football Injuries: Let Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Give You an Assist

If you’re looking forward to training, in the middle of a busy season, or preparing to help carry your team to victory, powering through an injury could seem like the right thing to do—if not for yourself, then for your friends and teammates. However, ignoring a foot or ankle injury could have consequences that outlast the season, risking a much longer recovery time and the possibility of lifelong disability.

Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle’s experienced team of Treasure Valley foot doctors provides dedicated care to keep you at the top of your game. We have years of knowledge working with athletes of all levels, and will guide you on various treatment solutions and services that make the most sense for your lifestyle and activities.