Are Baseball Injuries in a League of their Own?

Well, not quite. Many sports share injuries in common, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, shin splints, sprains, Achilles tendonitis, ruptures, blisters, etc. From Little League to the Big League, the injuries remain the same, but since the MLB players have trainers and team doctors, let’s keep an eye on the younger ones and the backyard sports enthusiasts.

Foot and ankle injuries are the most common injuries in baseball, not to mention conditions that can develop due to over-training or under-conditioning. Common ailments are:

    •    Plantar fasciitis

    •    Achilles tendonitis

    •    Ruptures tendons

    •    Stress fractures

    •    Trauma fractures

    •    Sprains

    •    Trip and fall injuries

    •    Blisters

But in addition to this, one of the more unique requirements in baseball is going from a standstill to a sprint, then from a sprint to a standstill when running the bases. This forces a lot of stress on the feet and ankles yet it is not an exercise that is focused on much in training and conditioning. Generally emphasis is placed on hitting the ball and fielding practice. Base running, however, is not usually taught and safety can be overlooked. Maintain the field in the best playing condition possible. This might sound like a lot of work, but check for holes or ruts and fill them immediately. If you are a visiting team, check out the field. Have your team take a light run on it so they familiarize themselves with the playing conditions. When doing exercises, conduct practice drills that use quick stops and starts so the body slowly begins to understand what is expected of it. Coordination drills are also good at drawing focus to using their feet. Practicing coordination exercises can prevent young player’s feet from getting confused and causing injuries.

Another problem that can lead to injury is cleats. Although cleats and spikes offer traction, they also can get caught and cause sprains, trips and twists. Buy cleats to fit. You can’t count on multiple seasons because of the growth rate in youngsters, so don’t handicap young players with shoes that are too big. This can lead to blisters, friction problems, fractures, sprains and falls.

Although base sliding it is fun it poses another opportunity for injuries such as sprains, fractures and broken toes. Proper sliding technique needs to be taught and it should not include using cleats as assault weapons. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. Focus on staying safe and avoiding injury. Check your youngster over for blisters, redness and swelling. What they don’t tell you can hurt them.

If you or your youngster sustains injury to your foot or ankle, contact Dr. Bowman at (713) 467-8886.

References:

http://www.healingfeet.com/blog/foot-care/safe-preventing-foot-and-ankle-injuries-in-baseball-players
http://www.houstonfootspecialists.com/educational-videos.html
http://communityfootcare.net/stay-in-the-game-avoiding-baseball-related-foot-and-ankle-injury/

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And This Little Piggy Lived Happily Ever After…

Have you ever stumbled around in the dark, stubbed your toe, and wound up inventing words? Well, join the club. A stubbing injury is one of the most common sources of a broken toe. There are a couple of misconceptions regarding broken toes. It is not true that “nothing” can be done for a broken toe. Also, it is not true that if you can walk on it, it is not broken. There are twenty six bones in the foot, and nineteen of them are either in the toes or long bones in the mid foot area. This makes the foot a complex area of concern. When you fracture any bone, you need to be evaluated to assess the overall damage and receive proper treatment.

Fractures can be divided into two cause factors: traumatic or stress. A traumatic fracture is due to an injury, such as stubbing your toe. A stress fracture is a tiny break that results from hard and repetitive action, such as a basketball player who jumps and lands repeatedly.

Symptoms of a traumatic fracture include:

    ·    Pain in the immediate area

    ·    Perhaps you hear a sound at the time of the break

    ·    Misshapen

    ·    Bruising and discoloration

Symptoms of a stress fracture include:

    ·    Pain during normal activity that disappears when resting

    ·    Swelling

    ·    Painful in the area of fracture when touched.

Because symptoms of fractures and sprains are similar, it is critical that you see Dr. Bowman.  He can examine your foot injury to make sure you receive proper treatment. Failure to get proper treatment can result in complexities ranging from deformity to long term loss of function.

Treatment for broken toes may include “buddy taping.” This means the injured toe is taped to the toe next to it for support. You should wear a supportive shoe to further protect the injury.  A cast is seldom necessary unless the fracture involves the big toe or multiple toes. If the fracture is displaced or a gap is noted, then you may need surgery. Make sure you schedule a follow-up appointment with Dr. Bowman so he can track your progress. Call (713 ) 467-8886 to schedule.

Broken bones usually take about 6 weeks to heal completely. Follow the doctor’s instructions so you can avoid complications like chronic pain or deformity. This will ensure your little piggies lead a long and happy life. Do you have a broken toe or metatarsal story to relate?  Feel free to share by leaving a comment!

References:

http://www.weil4feet.com/common_toe_metatarsal_fractures.html
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/broken-toe

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