How to Prevent and Treat Baseball Foot Injuries

The return of spring means kids will be heading out to the baseball fields, lacing up their cleats and getting ready to hit the mound or round the bases. While baseball is certainly a lower-impact sport than basketball or football, it can still take a toll on your foot and ankle health, from your nails to your bones, muscles and tendons. Want to protect your kids from baseball foot injuries this season? First, you need to be aware of the risks. Then, you need to follow these important tips from Powder Springs Sports Podiatrist, Dr. Alvin Cowans.  

Common Baseball Foot Injuries

Many baseball players experience injuries directly related to their game play. Here are some of the more common concerns: 

Plantar Fasciitis

Any time you play a game in cleats, you're increasing your risk for injuries. Heel pain after a baseball game could be the result of overstretching your plantar fascia, the band of connective tissue that runs from your heels to toes, along the bottom of the foot. 

Over time, that stretching can lead to inflammation or even tiny tears in the fascia. In turn, you experience intermittent heel pain. (It's typically worst when you first get out of bed in the morning, slowly improving throughout your day.) But, without treatment, the pain can become chronic, making it very difficult to stay in the game. 

Treating Heel Pain in Baseball Players

When athletes develop heel pain, we will take a close look at the fit of their cleats, ensuring they're wearing the right size and width of shoe. To resolve the heel pain, we will recommend stretches to relieve tension in the plantar fascia. A period of rest may be necessary to resolve the inflammation, and icing the bottom of the foot can help as well. (We suggest freezing a water bottle and rolling it under the arch of your foot each night before bed.) Additionally, you may need to add custom orthotics to your baseball shoes in order to prevent heel pain from returning later on. 

Achilles Tendinitis 

Describing inflammation in your Achilles tendon, this baseball injury can develop when you're running the bases or simply overworking your body to train for the game. You may feel heel pain at the back of your heel, and you will need to stretch, rest and ice the injury in order to avoid a more serious concern like a torn Achilles tendon. 

Sprains and Foot Fractures

These kinds of baseball foot injuries typically occur during game play, when you're pivoting to catch a ball or tag a player out, or when you're sliding into a base. Symptoms of sprains and fractures can overlap; they include difficulty bearing weight, redness, swelling, and tenderness to the touch. However, sprains and fractures require very different treatment. So if you want to ensure proper healing from these sports injuries, it's crucial to see our podiatrist right away for an accurate diagnosis. (You will need an x-ray to diagnose a fracture.) 

Treating Baseball Foot Injuries Involving Bones and Ligaments

If you've sprained or strained your foot or ankle, you'll need to rest. Whenever possible, elevate your injured side above the level of your heart. And ice the injured ankle for 15 minute intervals, several times each day. If your fractured, we will need to immobilize the injury. You may be in a walking boot, but, depending on the severity of your injury, you may need to be casted and completely off of the injured foot. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to realign the fractured bones or to help stabilize the affected bones or joints. 

Ingrown Toenails

Another injury that's common for athletes who wear cleats, many baseball players develop ingrown toenails because the force of their feet hitting the hard edge of their shoes causes trauma to the nail bed. Wearing well-fitted shoes can help prevent this baseball foot injury, but once the nail's growth has turned inward, you'll need in-office treatment to avoid infection and ensure proper healing. 

Turf Toe

While more common in football players, baseball players are also vulnerable to turf toe injuries. This term describes a sprain of the big toe joint; it is common in athletes who play on hard artificial surfaces like turf, and develops when they push off to run or pivot. The resulting force of the movement against a hard surface can bend the toe upward, resulting in symptoms such as pain at the base of your big toe; swelling; tenderness, and difficulties walking. 

Treatment Options

You can usually treat turf toe with rest, ice, and elevation. Anti-inflammatory medications can help support your recovery. Rarely, surgery may be necessary for complete healing. 

Treating Baseball Foot Injuries 

If your athlete is coming home from baseball practice complaining of foot, ankle, heel or toe pain, you should take immediate action. At the first sign of discomfort, contact our office to request an appointment. Early intervention can make the difference between a quick recovery and a long absence from the game!