The foot and ankle absorb enormous force during athletic activity, which makes them two of the most commonly injured areas in sports. Ankle sprains are the single most frequent sports injury, but fractures, tendon injuries, and overuse conditions like plantar fasciitis are also common — especially in sports with jumping, cutting, and repetitive impact.
Whether you're a weekend runner, a competitive athlete, or someone who just rolled an ankle in a pickup basketball game, knowing what you're dealing with helps you get the right treatment sooner. Below, our podiatrists break down the injuries we see most often on the field and court, how they're evaluated, and what treatment typically looks like.
Ankle sprains: the most frequent sports injury
The large majority of ankle injuries in sports are lateral ankle sprains, which happen when the foot rolls inward (inversion) and stretches or tears the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. This mechanism is extremely common in basketball, where repeated jumping and landing — often on another player's foot — puts the ankle at risk.
Soccer carries its own risk profile: the sudden cutting, pivoting, and kicking movements the sport demands increase the likelihood of both lateral ankle sprains and forefoot injuries. Sprains are graded by severity, from mild ligament stretching to a complete tear, and that grade guides how aggressive treatment needs to be. If you've had repeated sprains, you may be dealing with chronic lateral ankle instability.
Fractures: ankle, heel, and fifth metatarsal
Not every "bad sprain" is actually a sprain. High-impact sports and awkward landings can fracture the ankle itself, the heel bone (calcaneus), or the fifth metatarsal — the long bone on the outside of the foot that's especially prone to injury during cutting and pivoting movements. Stress fractures, caused by repetitive load rather than a single traumatic event, are also common in runners and other endurance athletes who increase mileage too quickly.
Because it can be difficult to tell a severe sprain from a fracture by symptoms alone, we frequently rely on the Ottawa ankle rules — a well-established clinical guideline — to determine whether an X-ray is needed. See our pages on ankle fractures and fifth metatarsal fractures for more on how these are treated.
Achilles tendon injuries: tendinopathy and rupture
The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and takes on tremendous load during running, jumping, and quick starts and stops. Overuse can lead to Achilles tendinopathy — chronic irritation and thickening of the tendon — while a sudden, forceful push-off can cause a partial or complete rupture, sometimes with an audible pop.
Chronic Achilles tendinopathy often responds well to a structured eccentric-loading program, commonly known as the Alfredson protocol, paired with activity modification. A suspected rupture needs prompt evaluation. Learn more on our Achilles tendonitis page.
Plantar fasciitis and other overuse injuries
Not all sports injuries happen in a single moment. Repetitive impact — especially in runners and athletes who train on hard surfaces — can lead to overuse conditions like plantar fasciitis, the inflammation of the band of tissue along the bottom of the foot that's a leading cause of heel pain. These injuries tend to build gradually, which is why early attention to nagging pain matters just as much as treating an acute injury.
How are sports injuries evaluated?
Evaluation starts with a physical exam to check for tenderness, swelling, range of motion, and stability. When a fracture is suspected, we use the Ottawa ankle rules and imaging such as X-rays to confirm or rule it out. For tendon and ligament injuries, we assess how the joint moves and how much load it can safely bear before deciding on a treatment plan.
Treatment: from rest and bracing to surgery
Most sports-related foot and ankle injuries are treated without surgery. A typical non-surgical plan includes rest, bracing or immobilization, and a progressive physical therapy program that restores strength, range of motion, and stability before returning to sport. For chronic Achilles injuries, that often means the Alfredson protocol described above. Surgery is generally reserved for complete ligament or tendon ruptures, displaced fractures, or cases that don't improve with a full course of conservative care.
Preventing sports-related foot and ankle injuries
You can lower your risk with a few consistent habits:
- Progressive load management — increase mileage, intensity, or playing time gradually rather than all at once
- Appropriate, sport-specific footwear that's replaced before it wears out
- Strength and stability exercises for the ankles and calves, particularly if you've been injured before
- Proper warm-up before high-intensity activity, and adequate rest between sessions
When to see a podiatrist after a sports injury
Seek prompt evaluation if you can't bear weight on the foot or ankle, notice significant swelling or bruising, see an obvious deformity, have numbness or tingling, or heard a pop at the time of injury. Even injuries that seem minor at first are worth having checked if pain, swelling, or instability lingers beyond a few days — treating an injury correctly the first time helps prevent it from becoming a recurring problem. When you're ready, you can request an appointment at either of our Northern Utah offices.
Medically reviewed by the physicians at Wasatch Foot & Ankle Institute. Our board-certified, fellowship-trained podiatrists provide foot and ankle care in Farmington and South Ogden, Utah. This article is for general education and is not a substitute for an in-person evaluation.