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COMMON INJURIES SEEN IN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES
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By Dr. Warren Windram D.P.M.
eenage athletes are from running, sliding into bases, fielding balls, injured about the same jumping or cutting quickly, tackling, kicking, or rate as professional even striking a ball. For example, a mild ankle athletes, but the high school sprain that remains un-diagnosed can lead to athletic injuries are different. further damage of ankle ligaments, peroneal This is mainly because high school athletes are tendons, chronic ankle instability, and possibly still growing. Injuries often occur when athletes an ankle fracture. Ankle fractures, metatarsal suddenly increase the duration, intensity, and fractures, fifth metatarsal (Jones fractures), and or frequency of their activity. The pressure tarsometatarsal injuries ( to play can lead to decisions that place the Lisfranc injuries/fractures) athlete at risk of additional injury with long-term are all frequent injuries that effects, therefore it is important to see a foot occur from side-to-side cut& ankle specialist if an lower extremity injury ting, tackling, or even direct does occur. In the young athletic population, contact with other players. we commonly see two categories of injuries Over-use injuries seen in in the foot & ankle: 1). overuse injuries and 2). high school athletes occur acute injuries. when an athletic activity is Acute injuries are caused repeated so often that parts by sudden trauma and are of the foot & ankle do not see in many sporting activ- have enough time to heal Fig: 2 ities (basketball, baseball, between playing. This is commonly seen in all volleyball, football, martial ranges of sporting activities where over-use/ arts, soccer, etc) (Figure 1). excessive training can cause Achilles tendinopThese injuries in the foot athy or heel pain (plantar fasciitis, calcaneal & ankle include sprains apophysistis, etc), stress fractures, posterior tibial (partial or complete tear of tendonitis (PTTD). Undiagnosed and un-treated a ligament), strains (a partial Achilles tendinopathy can lead to an Achilles or complete tear of a muscle tendon rupture, which is a devastating injury to or tendon), and fractures. any athlete that requires surgical intervention Fig: 1 Ankle sprains can occur if enough damage has occurred (Fig 2). Many
high school sports injuries can be prevented through proper conditioning, training, and equipFig: 3 ment (cleats, shoes, orthotics). Most importantly, all of these preventative measures noted above can be discussed and further reviewed with your local foot and ankle specialist, whether it is for sport orthotic prescriptions or shoe gear recommendations for certain sports (Fig. 3). For any lower extremity injuries or discomfort, a foot and ankle surgeon can evaluate your injury, obtain diagnostic imaging if needed, and develop a treatment plan to optimize the quickest return to your sport in the safest manner possible.
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Dr. Windram specializes in foot & ankle reconstructive/trauma surgery, with a particular interest in total ankle joint replacement surgery. He is involved with podiatric surgical training, working as the podiatric surgical residency director at Memorial Health Care System. Dr. Windram is the current director of the Foot and Ankle Fellowship program at Westside Regional Medical Center and is a clinical instructor at Westside & Memorial Health Care System’s podiatric surgical residency programs. South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine 209 S.W. 84th Avenue, Plantation, FL 33324
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