Common Foot And Ankle Injuries In Runners

When you think of running injuries, you may initially think of knee and hip injuries. Indeed, knee and hip injuries are quite common in runners. However, runners can also develop injuries to the feet and ankles. If you are a runner, the following are some key foot and ankle injuries to be on the lookout for.

Plantar Fasciitis  

The plantar fascia is a long band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. It essentially connects your heel to your forefoot. This tissue can become irritated and inflamed, especially when runners increase distance or intensity too quickly. The hallmark symptom of plantar fasciitis is intense pain and constriction along the bottom of the foot, near the heel.

This pain tends to be worst when you first get up in the morning, and it eases up as you walk around a bit. The best treatment for plantar fasciitis is usually rest. If the condition does not clear up on its own, a practitioner can administer a cortisone injection to bring the swelling down, which should jump-start the healing process.

Achilles Tendinitis

The Achilles tendon is the large tendon that connects your calf muscles to your heel. This huge, tough tendon works every time you take a stride. So, if you start running too much too soon, the Achilles tendon may become irritated and inflamed. This condition is known as Achilles tendinitis.

If not treated promptly, Achilles tendinitis can become progressively worse, eventually leading to a tear in the Achilles tendon. So, if you do experience any Achilles tendon pain or stiffness, take time off right away. If rest, alone, does not clear up the injury, you may benefit from physical therapy to strengthen your calf muscles, which will help take the strain off the tendon so it can heal.

Metatarsal Stress Fractures

The metatarsal bones are the bones that form the top of your foot, leading into your toes. Sometimes, runners develop stress fractures in these bones. The repeated trauma of running on hard surfaces can put the bones under more strain than they can handle, leading to a small crack.

The key symptom tends to be a pain in the top of the foot, which is centralized around one point. Treatment is usually rest, wearing a boot or walking cast for a few weeks, and then a slow return to running on softer surfaces and in supportive shoes.

If you're a runner, watch out for signs of these foot and ankle injuries. The sooner you seek sports injury physical therapy, the better.