Playing Tennis Part 2 - Most Common Foot and Ankle Injuries

The sport of tennis gives your body an aerobic workout. Playing tennis is a great way to stay healthy, fit and of course have fun. Unfortunately, your feet and ankles are subjected to an overwhelming amount of stress during a game. The back and forth and side to side motions of the game can put a lot of pressure upon your lower limbs. Combined with the swift start and stop of the game, your feet and ankles can very easily obtain an injury.

Common foot and ankle injuries while playing tennis include:

• Ankle Sprains: These painful ailments are the most common injuries associated with the sport of tennis. Ankle sprains commonly develop when the foot turns inward in an awkward motion. The consistent back and forth and side to side movements can make your ankles prone to sprains. Ankle sprains can cause severe pain and swelling. If you develop an ankle sprain, you should rest and elevate the injured ankle. You can apply ice and wrap the ankle to reduce swelling and relieve pain.

• Plantar Fasciitis: The quick movements involved in a tennis match can put a lot of stress on the arch of your foot. You plantar fascia, the band of fiber tissue that stretches from your heel bone down to your toes, supports the arch of your foot. The forced exerted on your feet can cause the plantar fascia to become inflamed and extremely painful as a result of plantar fasciitis. You can treat, as well as, prevent this condition by purchasing tennis specific shoes, wearing the correct shoe size, and investing in custom made orthotics.

• Tennis Toe: This condition, also referred to as subungal hematoma, develops when blood collects underneath your toenail. Tennis toe can be directly related to the shoes that you wear. It is always important to wear the correct shoe size. Remember to measure your feet and try shoes on before every purchase. You should also check your shoes at least once a month to determine that they still fit properly. You should purchase footwear that is specific to tennis in order to better protect your feet. If you develop tennis toe, you can relieve built up blood by applying ice, but make sure to contact our office as soon as possible.

With the overwhelming amount of stress exerted on your feet and ankles it can be easy to develop an injury.  It is important to take preventative methods while playing tennis. If you require any additional information on how to prevent these common injuries, or you have already developed an injury, contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.stege.com/topics/sports/tennis.htm

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Tampa Bay Rays, Evan Longoria, Spends Offseason in Surgery to Repair Morton's Neuroma

Last season Tampa Bay Rays, Evan Longoria, developed Morton’s neuroma in his left foot, which caused pain in his left hamstring. He is the third baseman of the Tampa Bay Rays and had to miss 26 games due to his injuries.
Longoria said that he ran on his toes in an attempt to reduce the pain from his Morton’s neuroma, but eventually needed surgery to fix the condition. Morton’s neuroma is a condition where the tissue surrounding the nerve by your toes expands.  It causes the feeling as if there is a tiny ball inside the bottom of your foot. The condition can come with a number of symptoms, including:

·         Inflammation

·         Pain in the ball of the foot

·         Stinging/tingling feelings near the infected area

·         Numbness

·         Swelling

·         Foot cramps

Longoria developed Morton’s neuroma between his third and fourth toes, where it most commonly occurs. Morton’s neuroma is an irritation caused by the foot’s tissues pushing against the nerves. The condition can develop from footwear such as having the improper shoe size or wearing shoes that squeeze your toes together. It can also be caused from playing high impact sports because of the repeated trauma inflicted on the feet and toes. Existing conditions like bunions or hammertoes can lead to Morton’s neuroma as well. The condition can also form from unusual bone structures.

If you develop Morton’s neuroma make sure your shoes provide your feet with enough room. Look for shoes with wide toe boxes that offer plenty of support. You should avoid pointy toed shoes and high heels. You may also want to insert custom made orthotics into your shoes to help condition your feet back to proper health. If Morton’s neuroma becomes serious it may result in surgery.

Call Capital Disctric Podiatry, PLLC. at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya, if you believe you have Morton’s neuroma and are experiencing similar symptoms. Dr. Pandya can diagnose your condition and provide you with treatments that will get your foot back into a good working and healthy condition.

More Info:

http://www2.tbo.com/sports/rays/2012/feb/25/2/longoria-finally-back-to-feeling-good-ar-362855/

http://www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com/library/1898/Neuroma.html; http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00158

http://www.foot.com/info/cond_mortons_neuroma.html; http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mortons-neuroma/DS00468

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