Our feet are the part of our body that see the most wear and tear in our lives. And you may be surprised to learn that the feet are one of the most complex parts of the human body, housing about a quarter of the body’s bones. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that our feet and ankles get injured so often.
Ankle and foot injuries are some of the most common medical complaints, and there are a thousand different ways to hurt your feet. Below are a few of the more common injuries and what causes them.
One of the more common ankle and foot injuries is a sprain. This is when the ligaments and tendons that hold the foot together get stretched or strained. You may notice pain and weakness in your ankle for several weeks after an ankle sprain.
Sprains can be caused by any number of things. Stepping off a curb wrong, stepping in a hole, or just falling down can make you twist your ankle. Anything that puts a strain on those ligaments can be a cause. Read more about a foot sprain.
A fracture is the formal medical term for when you break your foot. This can either be an acute fracture or a stress fracture. An acute fracture occurs suddenly, while a stress fracture may develop and worsen over time.
Stress fractures are common in runners, whose feet repeatedly strike the hard pavement, causing tiny cracks in the bone. Acute fractures can be a result of dropping something on your foot, severely twisting your ankle, or getting into a car crash or other accident.
Tendinitis can occur in the Achilles tendon, the tissue that runs down the back of your ankle. When this tendon gets swollen, it may cause some pain in your ankle or the back of your leg. Most cases can be treated with rest, though some do require surgery.
Tendinitis can be caused by repeating the same motion over and over again and wearing out that tendon. This is another condition seen commonly in runners.
Read more: What Causes a Ganglion Cyst on Your Foot and Ankle?
Turf toe is what happens when you stub your big toe hard enough to cause an injury. It’s a type of sprain, and it happens when you extend your toe past its normal range of motion.
Turf toe has earned its name because of its association with sports. Oftentimes, your cleat may grip the surface of the turf, while your body keeps moving forward, hurting your toe.
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the broad, flat ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot, called the plantar fascia. Like with tendinitis, this injury comes as a result of overuse.
If you’re a runner and you don’t stretch, you may be more prone to plantar fasciitis. You’ll start experiencing pain in your heel or arch that’s worse in the morning and eases over the course of the day.
All of us will twist our ankle or stub our toes at some point or another in our lives. But knowing about the more common foot injuries will help you decide if this is something that a little rest will cure or if you need to see a doctor.
If you have a foot injury you need to have looked at, visit us at Premier Podiatry. Our modern family-friendly podiatry clinic NJ is open 6 days a week – as late as 7 p.m. We can treat everything from ankle sprains to chronic heel pain and toenail fungus, using the most advanced technology. Contact us today to set up an appointment in Clifton, NJ, Wayne, NJ and the neighborhood counties (Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Union) with the highest clinical care and the best surgical outcomes.
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