We’re right smack in the middle of baseball season. If you’ve been practicing your homerun swing this year, you know it can take a lot out of you! Though it might not seem as dangerous as a contact sport like tackle football, if you’ve ever twisted your ankle diving for a ball or suffered a stress fracture rounding the bases, you know how your body can take a beating. There are many common foot injuries associated with America’s pastime. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we’ve compiled some of the common ones, along with great ways to prevent them.

The most common injuries in baseball:

  • Sprains and fractures: quick sprints, slides, and pivots are a huge part of baseball. After you get a solid slug, you want to round the bases as quickly as possible to avoid getting tagged out. These herky-jerky movements can often lead to overstretching a tendon or ligament or fracturing a bone.
  • Achilles tendinitis: brief sprints followed by pauses repeatedly can shock your Achilles tendon and cause it to become inflamed.
  • Plantar fasciitis: catchers are in a squatting position for long stretches of a baseball game, often causing their arches to hurt. Heel spurs can also occur from prolonged plantar fasciitis.
  • Ingrown toenails: tight cleats that squeeze your toes together can cause ingrown toenails.

Prevention is key for all sports injuries. To keep yourself in the game, follow these tips:

  • Practice good warmup and cooldown techniques before and after playing
  • Get the right gear and ensure your baseball cleats are a proper fit
  • Learn good running and sliding techniques and always keep them in practice
  • Rest when you need to and let your body recover between playing
  • Stay hydrated
  • Keep up with podiatry appointments, especially if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort

A sprain or slight injury might not seem like a big deal when you’re in the heat of the game, but without proper treatment, it can worsen and potentially lead to a chronic foot issue. If your safety practices have waned throughout the baseball season, now might be a great time to reassess them to ensure your feet and ankles stay safe and healthy.

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, Dr. Adam Mucinskas can help assess your foot and ankle health and ensure your season continues well. If you have sustained an injury this year, Dr. Mucinskas can assess and administer any needed pain relief. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

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162 West St Ste K Cromwell, CT 06416