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Athletic competition holds great importance in all societies. It teaches the importance of physical fitness, the value of sportsmanship, and team effort. And, more importantly, it is fun!
But sports may get dangerous at times and can be vulnerable to various body parts, especially when not played with all the protection.
Here we shall discuss which sports are likely to cause injuries to your foot and ankle and how you can minimize the risks.
5 Sports that Cause Most Ankle Injuries
1- Football
People in the US love football, but it is a rough sport that can cause several injuries to your head, neck, leg, arms, and shoulders, along with your feet and ankles.
The injuries it can bring:
High ankle sprain: It is one of the most common damages of the sport.
A high ankle sprain harms the syndesmotic ligaments, which are cited above the ankle. It occurs by outward twisting of the foot and ankle.
Shin splints: It causes pain where the calf muscles are attached to the bone. Shin splints occur because of overwork and repeated stress.
Achilles tendonitis: It is the swelling of the Achilles tendon which interlinks the heel bone and calf muscle.
It is short-term damage, but it may become a chronic condition called Achilles tendonitis if not treated well.
Blisters: It can happen because of high exposure to bad weather or from ill-fitted footwear.
Turf toe: It is named after the place where it occurs the most, i.e., the playing field.
It happens when your toe gets forcibly jammed or bends too far, creating ligaments hyperextension.
Lisfranc injury: A fracture of the midfoot bone is called lisfranc injury.
How to protect football injuries from happening?
Ankle taping may be a daunting and time-consuming procedure, but it is one of the most effective ways to lower the risks of ankle injuries which are inevitable in football.
Muscle conditioning and periodic practice are also important.
2- Basketball
The injuries it can bring:
Stress fracture: It happens by repeated stress which doesn’t let the muscles function as a shock absorbers.
The stress moves to the bones. The chances of stress fracture increase because of the sudden rise in practice when the player isn’t training regularly.
Achilles tendonitis: the regular jumping and running needed in the game makes players prone to Achilles tendon problems.
Ankle sprain: Basketball players are highly at risk of ankle sprains, majorly high ankle sprains because of the nature of the sport, which requires turning and twisting at high speeds.
How to protect basketball injuries from happening?
One of the things which a basketball player can do to prevent ankle and foot injuries is to tape his ankles and choose proper footwear.
It is important to consult with your coach and get a podiatrist’s advice and also do some research for shoes online.
3- Soccer
Soccer is known as football to the rest of the world. It enjoys great popularity outside the US and has held great numbers of injuries too.
The injuries it can bring:
Achilles tendonitis: Just like any other sport, soccer also involves a high risk of Achilles tendonitis.
Ankle sprain: It is extremely common in soccer. As the game involves constant pivoting and turning, ankle sprains are common.
Metatarsal fractures: They also happen commonly to soccer players because of continuous kicking needed in the game.
Ankle impingement, also called footballer’s ankle: Is a condition where bone spurs occur on the ankle’s bone and pinch the soft tissue and nerve, leading to pain.
How to protect soccer injuries from happening?
After being inactive for an extended period, you should start your training regime slowly.
Start with aerobic exercise and strength training, and do not overtrain. Proper shoes are essential.
4- Tennis
Tennis players also have the risk of ankle and foot injury, just like soccer and basketball players, and for the same reasons, the game makes the player run very fast in a small area, often making immediate changes of direction.
Tennis players hence are at regular risk for an ankle sprain, Achilles tendonitis, and stress fracture.
They are also prone to plantar fasciitis and swelling of the tissue which is present at the bottom of your foot.
How to protect tennis injuries from happening?
Just like any other sport, suitable footwear, correct ankle taping, and normal warm-up before rigorous play will help you in preventing injuries.
5- Running
In simple terms, running plays a major role in all sports-related ankle and foot injuries.
Sports require constant running, which makes you prone to risks of acute ankle and foot injury and chronic ankle and foot issues.
But activities like jogging and sports in which running is essential to involve sprinting and marathon, which holds special risks:
The injuries it can bring;
- Blisters
- Stress fractures
- Ankle sprain
- Shin splint
- Achilles tendonitis
- Plantar fasciitis
How to protect running injuries from happening?
If you run regularly, whether for sports or to keep yourself in good shape, you should take some precautions just like any other athlete. Proper shoes will help you in:
- Protecting your arches and ankles from repeated stress
- Prevent blisters from occurring on your skin.
- Securing your tendons from wear and tear
- Putting less stress on the calves and lowering the chances of shin splints
No matter what sport you participate in, ensure you do proper research and stay well-informed about the kind of protective gear you should wear.
Always warm up before practicing or competing.
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