Foot and ankle injuries on the rise: report
Sports-related foot and ankle injuries are becoming more common and more severe, finds a report appearing in the September issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
The report cites statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission indicating the number of toe, foot and ankle injuries from football grew to 62,000 in 2007 from approximately 49,000 in 2003, according to a press release from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which publishes the journal.
The three most common ankle and foot injuries are ankle sprains, Achilles ruptures and plantar fasciitis, the release said. Preventive measures include stretching and strengthening muscles around the area, and taping or bracing the ankle, according to author Robert B. Anderson. The use of artificial turf in sports may contribute to a higher number of lower extremity injuries, Anderson said.
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