Four Common Overuse Injuries
Whether you’re trying a new sport out for the first time, or you’ve been playing professionally for years, you can suffer from a common set of injuries called overuse injuries. Here at Maple Springs Foot Center, we see people “overdo it” a lot and treat their feet and ankles accordingly. We thought we’d put together a list of common overuse injuries and how to avoid them. If you’re an athlete, this list is a must-read!
Common overuse injuries:
Achilles Tendonitis – This is a painful condition caused by overusing your Achilles tendon, which connects your calf to your heel. To prevent this, always stretch before doing any kind of athletic activity. Changing up your exercise methods and not doing the same type of exercise over and over can also help to prevent Achilles tendonitis.
Plantar Fasciitis – This common condition comes with inflammation and pain in the heel. Plantar fasciitis typically flairs up in the morning, getting progressively better throughout the day. It can last for a prolonged period or come in short bursts. To treat plantar fasciitis, RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) is the best thing before you can get to your podiatrist.
Sever’s Disease – This is caused by inflammation of the heel bone before your skeleton is fully matured. It attacks the growth plate near where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel and can cause damage through a child’s life. Children should limit repeated jumping to prevent Sever’s.
Stress fractures – Repeated episodes of micro-traumas in the same area will cause splinters in the bone, called stress fractures. Usually increasing exercise suddenly will cause these. If not treated properly, they can become recurring or more severe, and cause a full fracture to occur.
Are you an athlete who exposes your feet to overuse? Are you already suffering from pain in your heel, arch, or tendon? If you’re experiencing issues in your feet or ankles, call us today. Dr. Stuart Snyder here at Maple Springs Foot Center can help assess and treat any foot or ankle issues you might be experiencing. To get in touch, request an appointment online or call our office conveniently located in Gaithersburg, MD at 301-762-3338.
