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Football and Volleyball Season: Prime time for foot, ankle injuries

Football and volleyball season are in full swing and the foot and ankle surgeons at Dallas Podiatry Works strongly urge parents and coaches to think twice before coaxing young, injury-prone players to "play through" foot and ankle pain.

"Skeletally immature kids, starting and stopping and moving side to side on cleats that often offer little support - that is a recipe for foot and ankle sprains or worse," cautions Dr. Joel Brook, a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

"Kids will play with lingering, nagging heel pain that upon testing, turns out to be a stress fracture that neither they, nor their parents, or Coaches were aware of," he said. "By playing with pain, they are unable to give their team 100 percent and can make their injuries worse, which eventually prolongs their time in recovery."

Dr. Brook said he has actually had to show parents x-rays of fractures before they'll take their kids out of the game. "And stress fractures can be subtle. They don't always show up on initial x-rays."

Symptoms of stress fractures include pain during normal activity, and touch, and swelling without bruising. Treatment usually involves rest and sometimes casting. Some stress fractures heal poorly and often require surgery. One example is a break in the elongated bone near the little toe, known as a Jones fracture.

"Football and volleyball are both very popular sports in our community, but the constant running, jumping and physical contact associated with it places excessive stress on a developing foot," adds Dr. David Northcutt. Pain from overuse usually stems from inflammation, from areas such as around the growth plate of the heel bone, more so than a stress fracture. "Adolescents growth plates are still growing and maturing. Rest, and in some cases, immobilization of the foot, should relieve that inflammation," Dr. Northcutt said.

Other types of overuse injuries include achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis (heel pain caused by inflammation of the tissue extending from the heel to the toes), as well as turf toe a common injury to the big toe joint capsule. The area is painful with motion, swollen, and stiff. Dr. Northcutt stated, "Left undiagnosed or un-treated can may lead to long-term instability of the big toe joint resulting in continued pain and arthritis."

Another common football and volleyball injury is ankle sprains. "Ankle sprains should be evaluated by a physician to assess the extent of the injury," said Dr Brook. "If the ankle stays swollen for days and is painful to walk or stand on, it could be a fracture." Treatment should be initiated to prevent long-term instability of the ankle joint.

For further information about various foot conditions, contact Drs. Joel Brook or David Northcutt at 972-566-7474 or visit www.FootPhysicians.com, sponsored by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.