Common Youth Baseball Ankle Injuries

Parents, summertime means baseball season for your active children. There are ankle and foot injuries that are fairly common amongst youths. Here are a few of the injuries and suggested treatments. For more information on youth baseball ankle and foot injuries visit the Beaver Valley Foot Clinics website or call 724-375-1577.

 Achilles Tendinitis: The stopping and starting creates tightness and straining in the back of the heel.

Plantar Fasciitis: A condition in which catchers are susceptible especially in the arch of the foot by squatting behind home plate for every pitch. Again, coaches should teach their catchers how to alter
their stance to vary weight displacement. A podiatric physician can evaluate arch pain and may prescribe customized shoe inserts called orthoses to help alleviate the pain.

Contusions: A baseball will inevitably make contact with a player's foot and ankle, whether it's a pitched ball, foul tip, or line drive, and sliding base runners often run headlong into a infielder's legs.
Usually this contact results in contusions, which are not often serious injuries. Ice packs and a few days' rest will usually help the contusions, or bruises, feel better.

Shin Splints: Shin splints usually stem from an inflammation of the muscle and tendon attached to the shin, caused by stress factors. Treat shin pain with cold compresses immediately after a game to
reduce inflammation. Proper stretching and strengthening exercises should prevent the onset of shin splints.