Every runner gets injured eventually.

The same is generally true for others who play certain sports, dance, or enjoy other active, high-impact hobbies. And more often than not, the injury occurs somewhere in the feet and ankles.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do these things, of course! We always encourage our patients to get plenty of exercise and enjoy their activities.

What it does mean is that you should take the best care of your feet you possibly can while you train and play, and seek help whenever a problem does develop. While you can’t always prevent every injury, you can significantly reduce your injury risk, as well as your recovery time when they do occur—and we are happy to help you find the relief you deserve.

Common Foot and Ankle Sports Injuries

At Precision Foot and Ankle, Dr. Tenenboym and the team treat all kinds of running and sports-related injuries in the lower extremities. This includes everything from mild to moderate chronic pain to severe injuries that require advanced treatments or surgery.

Examples include:

  • Ankle sprains. The most common traumatic sports injury. Ankle sprains should not be underestimated and always treated with care. If the ligaments do not heal properly, chronic pain may persist, and the ankle may become unstable and vulnerable to re-injury.
  • Turf toe. Turf toe is just another way of saying “a big toe sprain.” It’s common in turf sports like football and soccer, and usually happens when the toe gets hyperextended.
  • Heel and arch pain. Not all injuries are sudden and traumatic. Chronic pain and fatigue in the heels and arches can also develop from overuse—especially if you wear unsupportive shoes or don’t give yourself enough rest time between high-impact activities.
  • Strains are tears in muscle or connective tissue. They can be traumatic or chronic. Mild strains might lead to cramping or muscle weakness, while severe strains (in which soft tissues are completely ruptured) may be incapacitating.
  • Shin splints. Runners are especially prone to developing this injury, marked by pain and swelling in and around the shin bone.

Comprehensive Care for Runners and Athletes

At Precision Foot & Ankle, we offer a comprehensive approach to helping athletes prevent, manage, and recover from their injuries as quickly as possible.

In addition to providing high-quality conservative and surgical treatment options using the latest research-based techniques for any specific diagnoses, we may also suggest:

  • Biomechanical analysis. We’ll bring you outside and watch you run. By analyzing your gait and foot structure, we can give you better advice on how to manage pain and prevent injuries.
  • Improved footwear. Bring in your athletic shoes. We can help you evaluate if they’re a good fit for your feet—and suggest other, doctor-approved pairs if they aren’t.
  • Activity adjustments. We’ll coach you on ways to avoid overuse injuries and promote good foot health, such as the walk-run method, the importance of cross-training, stretches to practice, etc. We even provide racing protocols for our avid runners explaining how they can return safely to training and racing.

These and other techniques will not only help you manage any existing pain, but also prevent future injuries to the greatest extent possible.

Don’t Wait If You Want to Stay in the Game

We might as well admit it: runners and athletes aren’t always patient. We’re not always the best at listening to our bodies. Far too often, we continue to push ourselves far beyond a reasonable pain threshold.

Unfortunately, if you want to maximize your game time and minimize the time you spend on the disabled list, waiting until the last possible instant for treatment is the worst thing you can do. In the end, it’ll hurt more and you’ll run the risk of turning a minor injury into a severe or chronic one.

Next time you injure your feet and ankles, make a point to visit our office as soon as possible. We’re athletes too, and we love nothing more than helping you return to your lifestyle and reach your activity goals.

To schedule an appointment, give us a call today at (727) 399-7167.