Since March marks the official start of spring, we've devoted all our posts this month to seasonal sports, and how you can stay in the game without foot pain or injuries. Today, as we prepare to welcome April, we're looking at one last Spring sport. Specifically, we're exploring the top causes of soccer foot pain and what you can do to prevent or treat these issues.
Top Causes of Soccer Foot Pain ![young men playing soccer]()
Soccer players know that their feet are their most important tools for success in the game. Unfortunately, that also means they're a prime target for sports injuries when you play the game regularly.
Why is that the case? In addition to all the usual risks of athletic play, like overuse injuries, players also have to worry about the damage playing on turf and in cleats can do to their feet and toes. Add in all the sharp turns and side cuts associated with game play, not to mention the risk of injury from other players kicks and cleats, and you start to see why these soccer foot injuries are all too common.
Sprains:
Ankle sprains are one of the top causes of soccer foot injuries because of all the directional changes and forces involved in the planting, kicking and landing associated with the sport. Many of these forces cause your ligaments to stretch or tear, resulting in an ankle sprain. Sprains can also occur if you run on an uneven surface or trip or fall while cutting to the ball.
Acute injuries like this are hard to prevent, but early treatment can prevent complications. If you notice symptoms such as bruising and swelling, stop playing and practice RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevation. Afterward, if your pain doesn't improve in a day or two, come into the office to rule out a fracture and to ensure proper healing.
Turf toe
This injury describes a sprain in your big toe joint. And it's very common in athletes who play sports on artificial surfaces, as many soccer players do. Extremely painful, this injury can impact long term mobility if not treated quickly. So come into the office if your soccer player experiences turf toe symptoms such as pain or bruising at the base of the big toe.
Achilles Tendonitis:
Causing heel pain and pain in the back of the leg or ankle, many soccer players develop tendonitis as an overuse injury, either from over training, from failing to warm up properly, or from playing in the wrong footwear. Since tendonitis pain is the result of inflammation in the tendon, regular icing and rest can help resolve this condition. But, since Achilles tendonitis can progress and lead to a tendon rupture, it's important to involve your Powder Springs podiatrist Dr. Alvin Cowans in the recovery process. In addition to providing treatment, he can also fit you for custom orthotics to prevent the injury from returning after your recovery.
Plantar Fasciitis:
Like Achilles Tendonitis, this cause of soccer foot pain is an overuse injury. When you stress out the band of connective tissue running from your heel to your toes, along the bottom of your foot, inflammation can develop. Next, you'll experience heel pain. At first, it will be worse when you first get out of bed in the morning. And it should improve with movement. But if you don't treat plantar fasciitis, it can become a chronic problem. So come into the office at the first sign of heel pain.
Stress Fractures:
Yet another overuse injury common in soccer players, a stress fracture is a tiny crack in your bone that forms due to repetitive impact on the same area. You can prevent this injury with proper footwear and training, and treatment will involve rest and, in extreme cases, immobilization.
Other Fractures
Soccer foot injuries can also include traumatic fractures. A Jones fracture, impacting your fifth metatarsal bone leading to your pinky toe, is extremely common. Often, this injury will need to be repaired with surgery, due to limited blood flow in the area that reduces your body's ability to heal the fracture on its own.
In addition to Jones fractures, metatarsal fractures in the other bones are common for soccer players, either from the impact of kicking the ball or from getting stepped on by another player. For any of these injuries, symptoms will include immediate pain and swelling. Bruising may develop and bearing weight or walking will be difficult, if not impossible. Earlier intervention may help you avoid surgery, and can certainly reduce your recovery time, so come in for immediate attention (and in-office x-rays) if you suspect you've suffered a broken bone.
Sever’s Disease:
Don't be fooled by the name: this condition is not contagious. And it's only a cause of soccer foot pain in younger athletes. You see, Sever's disease is an inflammatory condition involving the Achilles tendon and the growth plate in a young adult's heel. Most common in children between the ages of 7 and 15, the condition causes pain in the back, inside or outside of the heel. The pain will be worse when your child is active, and improve when he or she is at rest. Now, Sever's disease can self-correct. But that healing could take years. So, to spare children the pain during soccer and all their other favorite activities, seeking timely treatment is important.
Treating Soccer Foot Pain and Other Athletic Injuries
Learning to identify the symptoms of common soccer foot injuries can help you seek early intervention. In turn, this can keep you from playing through the pain and worsening an existing injury. Have you noticed that your feet, toes or ankles hurt after you finish a game? Did you experience a sharp pain while training? Don't ignore the issue: instead, go take off your cleats, take an inventory of your symptoms, and contact our office at 770-727-0614 or by following this link to request an appointment. When you come into the office, we'll conduct a thorough exam, get you an accurate diagnosis and get you back in the game as soon as it's safe for you to play again!
