5 Most Common Foot & Ankle Injuries in Baseball

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• Ankle sprains & fractures: Ankle sprains and fractures often occur while running to base, fielding balls, or sliding into bases. Failure to treat a sprain or fracture appropriately can lead to the development of chronic ankle instability or arthritis, so it’s very important to have this type of injury evaluated by a professional. You can stabilize an injury at home using rest, ice, compression, and elevation therapy, but a professional will be able to outfit you with a wrap, stability walking boot, or cast while your injury heals.

• Peroneal tendon injuries: These tendons attach the outer part of the midfoot to the inside arch to maintain foot and ankle stability. Injuries to the peroneal tendon occur gradually with overuse. Severe injuries may take six weeks or longer to heal. Rest is most important for tendon injuries, but it can be tricky to orchestrate. That’s why it’s best to see a NY podiatrist who can assess your unique biomechanics and decide which treatment option is best for you. You may be sent home with a CAM Walker boot for several weeks or you may just require an orthotic insert in your shoe that tilts the foot and offloads pressure from the injured tendon. Physical therapy can help you maintain mobility through the recovery. Our Center also offers platelet-rich plasma injections to stimulate prompt healing if necessary. In rare cases, surgery to repair torn tendons is another option.

• Plantar fasciitis: Chronic heel pain occurs when the fibrous band of tissue connecting the heel with the arch becomes torn and inflamed. Recovery time is aboutsix weeks. Conservative treatment involves ice, rest, a new pair of shoes, and weight loss. The next level of treatment includes fitting you for custom orthotics and fitting you with a night splint. Some people require corticosteroid shots for immediate acute pain relief. Walking casts help busy people slow down and take it easy to facilitate recovery. In rare instances where the pain has persisted for 6-12 months or more, surgery may be beneficial. In fact, 75% of the people who get this type of surgery say it’s helped tremendously.

• Achilles tendinopathy: Overtraining and sudden increase in physical activity are the main culprits behind Achilles tendon injuries in baseball. It could take 6-9 monthsfor a return to play. Initial treatment begins with rest, NSAID or corticosteroid medication, a change of shoes or insertion of heel lifts, stretching, and strength training. About 25% of patients require more advanced treatment such as surgery, injections, or Extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

• Neuromas: Nerve damage to the balls of the feet can be caused by ill-fitting shoes or repetitive running. Players report that it always feels as though they are “walking on a marble.” Recovery time is between three and six weeks. Neuroma treatment ranges from anti-inflammatory medication and orthotics, to alcohol injections, and minimally-invasive cryosurgery.