Foot And Ankle Injuries In Field Hockey

Field hockey, also known in other countries just as hockey, is a team sport consisting of play between two teams of eleven players a piece using short sticks made out of wood wood or fiberglass to hit a hard, round ball. It is a popular sport in Western Europe, Asia, Argentina, and Oceania, and is the national sport of Pakistan. Play can be competitive and aggressive.
Field hockey injuries are often very similar to field sports like soccer and lacrosse because of cutting movements, sharp changes in speed or direction, and the playing turf. Foot and ankle injuries can be common because of how the game is played.
The most common foot and ankle injury sustained by field hockey players is an inversion ankle sprain, the most common type of ankle sprain, consisting of 70-85% of all ankle sprains. An inversion ankle sprain occurs when the foot rolls in, stretching and spraining the lateral (outside) ligaments. When the ankle is inverted, the anterior talofibular and the calcaneofibular ligaments are damaged.
Inversion ankle sprains can be misdiagnosed occasionally. If your anterior talofibular or calcaneofibular ligaments have not been strained, you may instead have peroneal tendon dislocation. There are two peroneal tendons that run side-by-side behind the outer ankle bone, with one tendon connecting to the outer part of the midfoot, and the other tendon connecting under the foot inside the arch. The job of these tendons is to stabilize the foot and ankle and prevent sprains.
If you're experiencing pain, swelling, and the area is warm to the touch, you may have the symptoms of peroneal tendonitis. Proper diagnosis is crucial for this condition, as symptoms will worsen with incorrect or no treatment. Most often treatment includes immobilization, bracing, and physical therapy.
Ankle, metatarsal, and Lisfranc fractures can occur in field hockey and sometimes require surgery to repair the fracture.
Overuse and excessive training may result in heel pain, Achilles tendonitis, sesamoiditis, stress fractures, and posterior tibial tendonitis. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is often called adult acquired flatfoot because it is the most common type of flatfoot that develops during adulthood. The posterior tibial tendon is one of the major supporting tendons of the foot and aids in walking. This condition occurs when the tendon has been weakened and its ability to support the arch has been impaired. Symptoms include pain, swelling, flattening of the arch, and an inward rolling of the ankle. It is typically a progressive injury and early treatment is crucial. If caught early, treatment can be non-surgical and include orthotics, immobilization, physical therapy, and shoe modifications.
If you are a field hockey player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
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