It’s the start of spring soccer practice and I watch my 10 year old daughter limp off the field. It’s become a familiar scene in the last couple years as I have seen several young athletes become sidelined with heel and ankle pain due to running in cleats. An athlete is commonly diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and sometimes a stress fracture. Why does this happen? Cleats typically do not have adequate support through the arch and the bottoms are hard! Imagine yourself running on a bed of plastic knobs!
What can you do to prevent heel and ankle pain?
- Make sure you have a properly fitted shoe. Cleats are more snug fitting than an athletic shoe but you should still have adequate toe room.
- You may need to add an off the shelf orthotic to improve the arch support. I frequently recommend Superfeet or SOLE brand insoles.
- You may also need to add a gel heel cushion to improve shock absorption in the shoe.
- Physical therapy can help in healing these painful conditions. A PT can instruct you in strengthening and stretching exercises along with manual therapy techniques to address your problems.
If you or your athlete needs further advice contact OSI Physical Therapy for a consultation. We’re here to help keep athletes healthy and on the field!