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Sports Medicine

Get Expert Care for Your Hammer Toes

Whether you are a runner, Crossfitter or professional athlete, the team at Affiliated Foot and Ankle Surgeons knows just how important it is for athletes to get specialized care and treatment when it comes to the health of their feet and ankles.

 

After all, athletes have unique needs and Dr. Peter Blume and the team at our New Haven, CT, practice provide that personalized care to athletes.

 

Whether you are dealing with a sports injury and need to get back in the game fast, or you’re looking for tips on how to protect the health of your feet and ankles while in the game, our team can help.

Why should you turn to a sports podiatrist?

A sports podiatrist specializes in treating a wide range of foot, ankle and lower limb injuries and conditions that may affect your ability to participate in certain activities. We can also provide our patients with different conservative and preventive strategies to help protect their feet and ankles, depending on the type of activity they are involved in. Dr. Blume and his team can analyze your feet and their structure, as well as their biomechanics.

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By seeing how your feet strike the ground, we can determine where your problems are starting and why you’re dealing with the current issues that you are. By correcting poor posture and imbalances in the feet through footwear suggestions, custom orthotics and special exercises, we can help patients improve mobility and function in their feet and ankles, and lessen their chances of an injury.

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Along with preventive strategies to protect your athletic feet, our sports podiatrists also know how to diagnose and treat a wide range of foot, ankle, and lower limb injuries, diseases, and disorders. We can treat everything from heel pain and arthritis to stress fractures and knee pain.

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Through a physical examination, gait and biomechanical assessment, and imaging tests we can quickly determine what’s going on and how to best treat it. We offer a full range of treatment options, from simple lifestyle changes and conservative home care to more aggressive treatment options such as prescription shoe inserts, steroid injections and even surgery.

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With more than 59 years of service, Affiliated Foot and Ankle Surgeons are still setting the standard for podiatric care in Connecticut. request an appointment today and get foot and ankle care from the best.

Sports Injuries

Foot and Ankle Injuries in Pickleball

1. Ankle strain/sprain – Pickleball involves sudden movements of the feet and ankles forward, backward, and side-to-side. These movements place stress on the ligaments surrounding the ankle joint.

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2. Achilles tendonitis – Achilles tendinitis occurs from repetitive stress to the Achilles tendon. Pain can appear anywhere along the tendon, from the calf muscle to tendon’s attachment at the back of the heel bone.

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3. Achilles tendon tear – Achilles tendon rupture can be a complete or partial tear. This happens when the tendon is stretched beyond its ability. This can occur with a forceful and abrupt downward (plantarflexion) movement of the ankle. 

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4. Plantar fasciitis/heel bruise – Plantar fasciitis and heel bruising will result from overuse or repetitive pounding on the hard playing surface. Pain can be in the arch area or bottom of the heel. Often, it is in both areas.

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5. Blisters – Blistering of the foot is usually associated with prolonged use of improper footwear and socks. Wear anti-friction socks. Make sure your shoes fit properly. You should NOT be using regular walking or running shoes on a pickleball court.

Avoid Pain and Raise Your Game: Choosing Shoes for Sports

No one likes to get hurt, and luckily sports injuries are avoidable! Sport-specific shoes can really affect the way you play. Make sure to have your feet professionally measured by today’s podiatrist to find a correctly sized shoe. If you participate in a certain sport at least two to three times a week, you should wear sport-specific shoes.
 

Avoid some serious sports injuries and raise your game by checking out the best shoes for several sports below.
 

Basketball - Common foot injuries: sprains, stress fractures, tendinitis

The perfect basketball shoe should:

  • Have a thick, stiff sole that gives support while running and landing jumps.

  • Have high ankle construction that supports the ankle during quick changes in direction.
     

Soccer - Common foot injuries: ankle sprains, turf toe, ingrown toenails

The perfect soccer cleat should:

  • Not have more than a half inch of space between the big toe and the end of the shoe.

  • Feature the stud type for the ground that will be played on most often: soft, hard, or firm.

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Football & Lacrosse - Common foot injuries: turf toe, Achilles tendinitis

The perfect football cleat should:

  • Have a good amount of high ankle support. This is especially important for linemen and other players who make frequent sideways movements during play.

  • Allow for proper traction on a grassy field, in both wet and dry conditions. This will largely help to prevent injury.

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Running - Common foot injuries: plantar fasciitis, shin splints, neuroma

The perfect running shoe should:

  • Provide maximum shock absorption, to help runners avoid ailments.

  • Match your foot’s arch type (high, medium, low).

Surgical treatment may be necessary if nonsurgical treatments fail to reduce pain or growth of the fibroma. The fibroma(s) are completely removed from the bottom of the foot through surgical removal.

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