What are Overuse Injuries of the Feet and Ankles?
Board-certified podiatrists like Kenneth R. Wilhelm, DPM use the word “overuse” when describing certain injuries to the feet and ankles. Overuse injuries bring patients to our podiatry office all the time.
But what exactly is an overuse injury?
As the name implies, an overuse injury occurs when you injure a body part by using it too much. Long hours of hard training or a marked increase in the amount of exercise you’re doing can bring on problems. For example, muscles get strained beyond their usual capacity; soft tissues get tiny tears in them that cause inflammation; and small cracks, called stress fractures, begin to appear in bones.
In addition to doing too much, overuse injuries occur because of:
- improper technique
- bad equipment – including old or worn-out shoes or the wrong shoe for your activity
- existing foot conditions such as flat feet
How we treat an overuse injury
Some common overuse injuries of the feet and ankles include plantar fasciitis, shin splints, tendonitis, neuromas, bursitis, and metatarsalgia.
Dr. Wilhelm’s goal in treating any overuse injury is to reduce pain and inflammation, promote the healing process, and get you back to your regular activity as soon as possible. In general, overuse injuries will benefit from conservative approaches to treatment, including:
- rest
- icing
- cross-training (varying the type of exercise or training you’re doing)
- over-the-counter or prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medications
- braces or splints
- custom orthotics to correct an underlying problem
- physical therapy to regain strength and flexibility
Olympic athletes like the ones currently in Beijing frequently suffer from overuse injuries. But so do amateurs and weekend warriors from Fairfax County, Virginia! If you’re suffering from chronic foot, ankle, or shin pain, take a break from any activity that makes it worse. If rest alone doesn’t improve your pain, visit Clifton Foot & Ankle Center’s office in Centreville for expert advice and caring treatment. Call (703) 996-3000 or make an appointment online.
