Many sports are hard on the feet because of quick repetitive movements, constricting footwear, and/or increased exposure to injury or trauma. Following is a brief overview of some of the most common injuries that result from particular sports.

Common Sport Injuries: The most common sports injuries are sprains and strains. Sprains occur when the ligaments, which are the strong bands that connect bones together in your joints, are stretched beyond their means and either become deformed or torn. Strains are injuries to the muscle fibers and tendons that connect muscles to bones. When these ligaments and fibers are stretched too far past their normal elacticity, they can become torn and painful. Such overuse injuries are preventable, in most instances. Before working out or playing basketball, make sure to stretch and warm up your muscles thoroughly.

Martial Arts and Kick Boxing: Injuries commonly seen as a result of martial arts and kick boxing include plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, sesamoiditis, and ankle sprains. Stretching is recommended to help prevent injury: specifically, a minimum of 15 minutes of stretching before performing any kicking or punching.

Aerobics: Impact forces from aerobics can reach up to six times the force of gravity, which is transmitted to each of the 26 bones in the foot. That is why proper shoes are crucial to successful, injury-free aerobics. Shoes should provide sufficient cushioning and shock absorption to compensate for pressure on the foot many times greater than found in walking. They must also have good medial-lateral stability.

Team Sports: Activities such as football, baseball, basketball, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse often lead to ankle injuries as a result of play on artificial surfaces, improper footwear, and/or inadequate stretching.