Ankle injuries
- Ankle sprains
- Chronic ankle instability
- High ankle sprains
- Osteochondral injuries
- Ankle impingement
Sports Injuries
Get back to activity without ignoring the injury
Foot and ankle injuries are common in runners, gym-goers and athletes involved in jumping, cutting, sprinting and contact sports.
They can involve bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage or joints. A sports injury that appears minor initially can sometimes become a persistent problem if the underlying injury is not recognised or rehabilitation is incomplete.
Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons treat a wide range of traumatic and sports-related injuries, including ankle instability, tendon injuries, fractures, cartilage injuries and sports-specific conditions.
Common foot and ankle sports injuries
Depending on the sport and mechanism, injuries may include:
Tendon injuries
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Achilles rupture
- Peroneal tendon disorders
Foot injuries
- Stress fractures
- Metatarsal fractures
- Jones fractures
- Lisfranc injuries
- Turf toe
- Sesamoid injuries
Overuse conditions
- Plantar fascia problems
- Stress injuries
- Tendinopathies
- Repetitive-load disorders
Acute injury versus overuse injury
Not every sports injury happens in one dramatic moment.
Acute injuries
These occur suddenly—for example:
- Twisting an ankle
- Landing awkwardly
- Sudden sprinting
- Direct impact
- Jumping and landing
Overuse injuries
These develop when tissue loading repeatedly exceeds its ability to recover. They may be associated with:
- Sudden increase in training volume
- Increased running intensity
- Change in training surface
- Inadequate recovery
- Poor footwear
- Muscle weakness or tightness
- Biomechanical factors
Stress fractures are an example of an injury that can develop progressively with repetitive loading.
What symptoms should athletes not ignore?
Seek assessment if you have:
- Pain that keeps returning during training
- Pain that progressively increases with activity
- Swelling after exercise
- Repeated ankle sprains
- Persistent pain at one specific point on a bone
- Difficulty running or jumping
- Sudden loss of strength
- A “pop” followed by weakness
- Pain that persists despite reducing activity
Pain that repeatedly returns when training resumes may indicate that the underlying problem has not been adequately addressed.
How is a sports injury diagnosed?
A sports injury assessment should consider both the injury and the demands placed on the foot and ankle.
Assessment may include:
- Mechanism of injury
- Training history
- Previous injuries
- Foot and ankle alignment
- Range of motion
- Muscle strength
- Tendon examination
- Ligament stability
- Gait and running mechanics
- Sport-specific requirements
Treatment does not always mean surgery
Many sports injuries can be managed without surgery.
The objective is to restore function rather than simply wait for the pain to disappear.
Treatment may include
- Relative rest
- Activity modification
- Temporary immobilisation
- Bracing
- Physiotherapy
- Strengthening
- Balance and proprioception training
- Gradual return-to-sport programme
- Footwear modification
- Orthotic support in selected cases
When might surgery be necessary?
Surgery may be considered for selected injuries such as:
- Certain displaced fractures
- Persistent mechanical ankle instability
- Complete Achilles rupture in appropriate patients
- Significant tendon tears
- Certain osteochondral injuries
- Unstable Lisfranc injuries
- Selected turf toe injuries
- Stress fractures that fail appropriate non-operative treatment or have a high risk of nonunion
The decision depends on the exact injury, patient goals, sport and response to non-operative treatment.
Returning to sport
Returning to sport should be based on function rather than simply the number of days since injury.
Depending on the injury, rehabilitation may progress through:
- Pain and swelling control
- Restoration of movement
- Strength recovery
- Balance and proprioception
- Running progression
- Jumping and landing
- Change-of-direction drills
- Sport-specific training
- Return to competition
For competitive athletes, the rehabilitation programme may need to be tailored to the demands of the specific sport.
Preventing another injury
Previous injury is itself an important risk factor for some recurrent sports injuries.
For example, balance and strengthening rehabilitation are important components after ankle sprain to reduce the risk of recurrent instability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I train through pain?
Training through progressively worsening or persistent pain is not always appropriate. The response to loading should be assessed in the context of the suspected injury.
Do all sports injuries need an MRI?
No. Imaging should be selected according to the clinical examination and suspected pathology.
When should I see an orthopaedic specialist?
Persistent pain, recurrent injury, inability to return to activity, significant swelling, suspected fracture or sudden loss of strength are reasons to seek assessment.
Can I return to sport after an ankle ligament injury?
Yes, many athletes return to sport after appropriate treatment and rehabilitation. The timeline depends on the injury and functional recovery.
Is surgery always required for a sports injury?
No. A large proportion of sports-related foot and ankle problems can be treated without surgery.
Consultation
Whether you are a recreational runner or a competitive athlete, the goal of treatment is not simply to reduce pain—it is to understand the injury, restore function and build a safe path back to activity.
Book an Appointment
Dr. Anup A. Panda
Orthopaedic Knee, Foot & Ankle Surgeon
Diabetic Foot Specialist
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, KIMS Bhubaneswar
