No matter what sport you play, your feet and ankles are the true MVPs. These complex biomechanical structures bear the weight of your body, making it possible for you to stand tall in tree pose; kick a soccer ball across a field to score a goal; jump to make that perfect slam dunk at a basketball game—and just about anything else you train yourself to accomplish. They even help absorb the shock from high-impact activities like step aerobics and Zumba.
When a sport-related foot or ankle injury occurs, it can leave you in pain and sitting on the sidelines. Fortunately, there's help. Regardless of whether you were hurt while running, hiking, practicing martial arts; playing a team sport like soccer, pickleball, lacrosse; or participating in any other kind of indoor or outdoor recreational activity, the Foot and Ankle Center of Lake City's expert podiatrist, Dr. Rion Berg, can provide the treatment you need to heal properly, and get back in the game and back to the active lifestyle you enjoy.
Expert Podiatric Care for a Wide Range of Sports Injuries in North Seattle
With a background in physical therapy and 40 years in podiatry practice, Dr. Berg's successfully treated countless athletes and active individuals for sports injuries to the feet or ankles. As a result, no matter your sport of choice, we understand the risks it entails and have the necessary skills and experience to accurately assess and diagnose your condition. Here are some of the most common sports injuries we treat:
Acute Injuries
When you sprain or fracture your foot or ankle, injure your toe, or rupture your Achilles tendon you want to be evaluated quickly. Our office offers same-day treatment for emergencies during the week including X-ray to assess whether you’ve broken your foot or ankle. Here are the most common acute injuries we see at the office.
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Ankle Sprain
Ankle SprainOne of the most common sports injuries is an ankle sprain. Most common in sports that require twisting movements.
- basketball
- soccer
- pickleball
- football
Improper treatment of ankle sprains can lead to long-term problems so it’s important to get them evaluated. Treatment for ankle sprains in Seattle.
Ankle Fractures and Breaks
It’s important to get an ankle sprain evaluated to make sure it’s not fractured or broken. In addition to pain, you’ll often have difficulty walking on a broken or fractured ankle, but not always. In addition to participating in high-impact sports, fractures are common when an athlete or weekend warrior increases their training time too rapidly. Learn about treatment for ankle fractures and breaks here.
Achilles Tendon Rupture
When the Achilles tendon is stretched beyond its capacity, it can rupture. Common in:
- basketball players
- soccer players
- older athletes who play only occasionally
- previous injury to the Achilles
Learn more about other risk factors and treatment in Seattle for Achilles tendon rupture.
Overuse injuries
When most people think about sports injuries they tend to think about sprains and breaks. And while these are very common injuries as mentioned above, a large portion of athletes suffer from overuse injuries.
Overuse injuries occur most often when a casual or pro-athlete:
- builds up their training schedule too quickly
- takes on a new sport without proper training or technique
- uses improper equipment or surfaces i.e. unstable shoes or shoes not designed for the sport or running on very hard surfaces
Here are the most common overuse injuries we see at the Foot and Ankle Center of Lake City.
Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendonitis
Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis are the most common overuse injuries we see at our clinic. In addition to participating in sports, risk factors for these conditions are:
- poor foot mechanics (ie. Flat feet, high arches, or overpronation)
- tight calf muscles
- overweight
- wearing unsupportive or worn-out shoes
- wearing shoes not designed for the sport you play
- hill running or stair climbing (in Achilles tendonitis only)
Learn about treatment of plantar fasciitis here and Achilles tendonitis here!
Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are also common in athletes and occur for a variety of reasons including:
- increasing training schedule too quickly
- runners who overstride
- women athletes who are underweight
- poor foot mechanics
- improper shoes
Learn how stress fractures are treated and prevented here!
Ball of Foot Pain
It’s not just the heels of your feet that develop chronic pain from participating in sports. Ball of foot pain is also common.
- Morton’s neuroma causes pain or numbness between your 3rd and 4th toes.
- Metatarsalgia can cause pain under one or more of your foot bones in your midfoot.
- Sesamoiditis occurs when the tendons surrounding the sesamoids can become inflamed. Sesamoiditis is common in ballet dancers, runners, and baseball catchers because of the pressures placed on their feet.
- Turf toe is also a form of sesamoiditis that’s common in soccer players and football kickers.
Ingrown Toenails, Black Toenails, Deformed Toenails, and Toenail Loss
When athletes wear shoes or boots that are too tight or too loose, toenail problems can occur. Learn how to prevent toenail problems from occurring here!
Chronic Ankle Instability
When an athlete’s ankle isn’t treated completely or allowed to heal properly, chronic ankle instability can develop. Repeated ankle sprains can also be a cause.
Learn how chronic ankle instability is treated here!
Conservative to Advanced Treatments for Sports-Related Foot and Ankle Injuries
Contrary to popular belief, when it comes to sports and fitness, pain does not mean gain. In reality, it's the body's way of alerting you to a problem. Ignoring these alerts and playing through the pain can have serious consequences, like allowing relatively minor injuries and issues to develop into complicated chronic conditions.
Seeking prompt evaluation and treatment for podiatric sports injuries is vital—and no matter what's ailing you, Foot and Ankle Center of Lake City has a solution that's right for you. We offer a broad range of options, from conservative methods to cutting-edge therapies, including:
- Custom orthotics. We offer custom orthotics using gait analysis and a 3D scan to create the best product for your feet.
- Stretching and strengthening exercises. Learn how to stretch your muscles properly to prevent common foot and ankle sports injuries. We recommend Dynamic Warm-Ups before you work out or participate in your sport and static stretches afterwards.
- Footwear recommendations. Some sports injuries are the result of footwear that's restrictive or lacks adequate support. We'll evaluate your feet and recommend appropriate shoes for your sport of choice.
- Foot and ankle taping. This "old school" technique can provide relief for a variety of common sports injuries.
- MLS Laser Therapy. This revolutionary cold laser therapy eliminates pain and reduces inflammation without side effects, or the use of painful injections or potentially habit-forming drugs.
- Patient education. In addition to helping you get back to your passion, we'll provide you with the information you need to prevent your injury or condition from reoccurring.
- Surgical options. While we always prioritize more conservative treatments whenever possible, in some cases, surgery may truly be the best option for resolving your sports injury.
Further Reading for Specific Sports Injuries
- Best Treatment for the Top 5 Running Injuries
- Best Treatment for Foot and Ankle Injuries in Hikers and Climbers
- How to Prevent and Treat Foot and Ankle Pain in Pickleball Player
- How to Prevent Foot and Ankle Injuries in Skiers and Snowboarders
- How to Prevent and Treat the 7 Most Common Rock Climbing Foot and Ankle Injuries
Patient Testimonials About Treatment At the Foot and Ankle Center of Lake City for Sports Injuries
I've been a runner for over 50 years and have completed 24 marathons, so finding a doctor who truly understands my needs is important. Dr. Berg exemplifies exceptional patient care. He never rushes appointments and always takes the time to listen, making me feel heard and valued—like part of the family. His staff is equally caring, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. During my last visit, I had pain on the top of my foot. Dr. Berg administered a cortisone shot, taped it, and now the pain is completely gone. Thanks to him, I feel confident that I’ll be running again in just a few weeks.
-L.W.
I can't say enough how well this procedure worked!! I had 8 treatments of MLS laser therapy (Oct - Nov 2021) to treat inflammation due to a heel spur. I received 2 treatments per week and started feeling relief after the 2nd treatment. Each week my pain level was reduced until I was nearly pain free! I am back on a tennis court and walking my dog without the pain. I'm so glad I decided to try this process and thank Dr Berg and his team for the amazing outcome."
-Susan T.
Dr. Berg and the staff were very helpful! I'd injured my foot and I thought active sports were over. But Dr. Berg laid out a clear path that I stuck to and now I'm ready to start running again! Overall a very positive experience. I highly recommend the Foot and Ankle Center of Lake City.
-Billy T.
