The 6 Most Common Foot and Ankle Injuries in Football

Football asks a lot from your feet and ankles, from cutting through holes, sprinting on go balls, or tackling the ball carrier on hard turf. If you’re limping after practice or waking up sore on Monday, you’re not alone. At My Chicago Foot Expert, we see the same patterns every season, and the fix usually starts with understanding what you’re dealing with and why it happens. Let’s explore the most common foot and ankle injuries during football season.

Ankle Sprains and High Ankle Sprains

A classic lateral ankle sprain happens when you roll the ankle inward, such as when you land on a teammate’s foot or cut hard. Swelling and tenderness sit around the outer ankle. A high ankle sprain involves the ligaments above the ankle and often hurts with pushing off or twisting.

What helps: Rest from painful drills, compression, gentle range-of-motion work, and a progressive return to loading.

Turf Toe

Turf toe is a sprain of the big toe joint from forceful push-off or getting the toe bent back under you. You’ll feel pain at the base of the big toe, especially when sprinting or cutting, and stiff cleats can make it worse.

What helps: Taping, a stiff-soled insert or carbon plate, and short-term activity tweaks. And don’t ignore it. Pushing through can turn a quick sprain into a nagging season-long problem.

Achilles Tendonitis

Explosive starts and repeated sprints load the Achilles. Morning stiffness, a tender spot a few inches above the heel, or pain with jumping are common.

What helps: Reduce sprint volume briefly, add slow eccentric calf raises, and check your cleats.

Plantar Fasciitis

Hard practices on turf plus tight calves can irritate the plantar fascia. You’ll notice sharp first-step heel pain that eases as you warm up, then returns after you sit.

What helps: Supportive inserts, daily calf/plantar stretches (30 seconds), and smart load management.

Metatarsal and Jones Fractures

Direct blows, awkward landings, or repeated stress can crack the long bones of the foot. A Jones fracture along the base of the fifth metatarsal is notorious in football and often needs strict rest, and sometimes surgery, for solid healing.

What helps: If you can’t bear weight or have pain pinpointing one spot, we recommend an X-ray.

Lisfranc Injuries

A twist with the foot planted can sprain or tear the midfoot ligaments. Expect swelling, bruising on the sole, and pain pushing off. These are easily missed and can sideline you if untreated.

What helps: Prompt evaluation and imaging. Treatment ranges from boot protection to surgery, depending on stability. 

For any questions about foot health and wellness, reach out to the tenured staff at My Chicago Foot Expert by calling (773) 561-8100 or by clicking here to schedule an appointment with Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood office today.