Connect with us

Health

10 Most Common Foot Injuries and Everything You Need to Know

The more you know about the problem, the more you can avoid and treat the issue. So, keep on reading to learn more about the most common foot injuries.

Published

on

Most Common Foot Injuries

Your feet are one of the essential body parts that can affect your work performance and lifestyle. They support everything from the head and chest to your hips and legs. Since it’s integral to our everyday life, it’s easy to get ankle and foot pains. 

You may not know it, but there may already be a problem with your foot health. The more you know about the problem, the more you can avoid and treat the issue. So, keep on reading to learn more about the most common foot injuries. 

These Are the Most Common Foot Injuries

#1 Achilles Tendonitis

The Achilles is the largest tendon in your body. It connects your two main calf muscles to the bones in your heel. It’s easy to get tendon inflammation due to overuse. 

Advertisement

Achilles Tendonitis occurs due to sudden trauma and repetitive damage built over time. If you hear a popping sensation or sound after landing a jump, your Achilles tendon may have burst. An experienced foot doctor can help you ascertain the extent of the injury and determine the treatment methods. 

#2 Neuromas

Neuromas are one of the most common causes of foot pain. This condition happens if you wear high-heeled or too-tight shoes. It compresses all the nerves in between your toes. 

You can feel numbness, tingling, and pain when all your nerves get narrowed by tight shoes. The feeling generally occurs between the third and fourth toes. You can relieve the pain with orthotics, icing, and padding. 

Advertisement

#3 Ankle Sprain

Your ligaments are a group of connective tissues that give strength and stability to your joints. In your ankle, ligaments hold the joint to avoid moving too far from one side to the other. When a sprain happens, some ligaments get torn up or stretched. 

Ankle sprains are minor but are one of the most common foot injuries in the world. About 1 million ankle injuries are occurring every year for children. A sprain can affect the syndesmotic ligament, which covers the knees down to your ankles. 

Sprains heal with a little rest and ice. Make sure you don’t leave it be since it can weaken your ankle over time. Getting repeated ankle sprains can lead to arthritis. 

Advertisement

#4 Stress Fracture 

Stress fractures are one of the most common and severe sports injuries. It happens when you do a high-impact activity with repetitive and excessive force. If your muscles get fatigued, the stress can transfer to your bones. 

If you don’t get enough rest between workout sessions, small cracks in your bones will appear. Make sure you take enough breaks and don’t overdo exercises to avoid getting stress fractures. 

#5 Gout 

Gout is a complex and common form of arthritis that affects your feet when you have too much uric acid inside your body. It can feel like your foot is burning, especially in the affected area. Gout can come and go, which can develop chronic gout over time. 

Advertisement

One of the main reasons you can get gout is the foods and drinks you take every day. Some foods with high amounts of uric acid include organ meats, sugary foods, and seafood. It’s best to change your eating and drinking habits in your 40s to 50s and women in their postmenopausal

#6 Athlete’s Foot 

Athlete’s Foot is a type of fungal infection that starts between your toes. It’s common to get the condition when you contact fungus in wet areas like pools and public showers. Some common signs of Athlete’s Foot include stinging, itchy, and burning feet and toes. 

It’s also possible to experience crumbly toenails with dry and cracked foot skin. The easiest way to get treated is by getting over-the-counter antifungal medications. You can also soak your feet in diluted vinegar or saltwater to dry up any blisters. 

Advertisement

#7 Blisters

Blisters occur when you walk or stand for very long periods of time. Bubbles with fluid inside collect in the pockets under the skin’s top layer. You can find blood, pus, or serum inside the bubbles. 

If left alone, the blisters can start to itch and hurt a lot, causing foot pains. Blisters aren’t serious, but you do need to treat them to avoid getting infections. You can let the blister heal by itself and place a bandage over it to give your comfort. 

#8 Plantar Fasciitis

One of the most common ankles and foot injuries for adults is plantar fasciitis. This is when you start experiencing foot pain at the bottom of your heel. Plantar fasciitis happens when the Fascia group of tissue at the foot’s arch becomes inflamed. 

Advertisement

Most people can feel the pain after prolonged periods of resting. It also happens due to soft soles in your shoes, long-distance running, and gaining weight. The best home-based treatments you can do include applying ice and stretching your feet every day. 

#9 Bunions

A bunion is a bump that usually occurs at the base of your big toe. Your big toe starts to bend more towards your other toes, which shifts your joints out of place. It can also cause irritation and inflammation on your second toe and big toe. 

Bunions occur when you wear tight and narrow-toed shoes, but heredity also plays a small role. If you leave it untreated, it can become harder for you to walk without feeling any foot pain. Ice, OTC food pads, and proper-fitting shoes are the best solutions to reduce bunions. 

Advertisement

#10 Heel Spur

When calcium starts to build up at the bottom of the heel bone, heel spurs will appear. It can irritate your plantar fascia, which triggers pain at the arch and heel of your feet. You may also feel a bony protrusion and inflammation at the front of the heel. 

A good way to relieve the pain is by regular foot and calf stretches. Watch the shoes you wear, rest your feet, and check-in with your doctor. You can treat heel spurs with cold compressions, physical therapy, medications, and even surgery. 

Conclusion

These are all common foot injuries that can leave permanent damage if you don’t know what to do with them. To avoid neuromas to heel spurs, make sure you watch what you eat and drink. Choose the right-sized shoes and never overwork your feet. 

Advertisement

Make the right choices for your feet and overall health! Improve your lifestyle and everyday habits by taking a look at our other helpful guides.

Hi, I am a Dietician, Doctor and Gym Trainer. Keep You Update With Cooking, Healthy Diets, Fitness, Gym and Yoga's to Keep You Fit and Healthy.

x