It happens, especially in professional sports. This time it was the NBA’s newly acquired player Norman Powell for the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s out indefinitely, having broken a bone in his left foot. Unfortunately, Powell’s injury occurred in only his third game when a player from the opposing team stepped on his foot. It can happen to anybody, though. Let’s look at common sports injuries and what you can do about them.

Sports can cause injuries to the feet due to impact, sudden movements, repetitive motions, overuse, or constrictive footwear. The hard impacts commonly cause injury and trauma to bones in the feet and ankles. However, there are a few precautions you can take to minimize the risks of injury.

The right shoes make all the difference. Athletic footwear will depend upon the type of sport you play. Make sure to choose a shoe that provides the support, shock absorption, traction, and protection necessary to keep the foot working properly and free from injury and stress.

Stretching also can help prevent foot and ankle injury. Make sure you first warm-up before any strenuous exercise. Including stretching in your warmup will improve flexibility and range of motion. However, it’s important never to stretch in a way that causes ankle pain, foot pain, or other kinds of discomfort.

It’s also good to mix things up. Many athletes cross-train to make themselves better athletes. It also can prevent injury caused by overuse and repetition. Of course, you want to practice, but mixing it up with other activities can prevent problems associated with overtraining.

As always, if you do find an issue or are experiencing any pain or discomfort, contact a specialist right away.

Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, Dr. Donal M. Erickson, Dr. Keith Sherman, Dr. Riane Teagarden, and their staff will help you diagnose and treat your foot or ankle condition. Call Syracuse Podiatry, located in East Syracuse, New York, for more tips and expert advice. Call 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online today.