Have you suffered an injury playing cricket?

The cricket season is in full swing – sorry! Our clinics see a number of clients who have suffered from a cricket injury or from playing another sport. As with any sport involving running, repetitious actions can lead to stress of all kinds. There are forces of high impact on the structures of the feet – the toes, ankles, muscles, ligaments, tendons and the bones that support the feet. These forces can be two to three times our body weight so it is easy to appreciate the damage that can be done. Other stresses may be a result of ill-fitting shoes and socks.

Common sports injuries and when to seek the help of We Fix Feet

There are a number of common conditions that can occur from playing cricket or other sports. We have listed a number of them below.

Are you suffering from lower back pain?

Pain in the lower back may be an indication of improper gait during actions like bowling or of structural limitations such as limb length discrepancies (one leg longer than the other).

Have you got pain in your toes?

Black and blue under the nail (subungual haematoma) may be a result of an inappropriate-fitting shoe; it is not uncommon to cut a hole in the toe box area, but this is not recommended as it changes the mechanism/function of the shoe and may result in other problems

• Yellow/green nails – may occur naturally or if a nail is partially lifted during a game. If left untreated can result in unwanted bacterial and fungal growth leading to a fungal nail infection.
• Paraonychia – redness and swelling at the side of the toe mostly seen on big toes.
• Ingrowing toenails – redness and swelling at the side of the toes sometimes accompanied by discharge.

Have you got pain in the bottom of the foot (arch area)?

Plantar fasciitis pain can be mild to severe and is likened to a feeling of tearing under the skin in the arch while standing. It is usually noticeable in the mornings after rest. Sometimes it can be worse after a game or training session. It may or may not involve discomfort in the heels.

Retrocalcaneal tendonitis is pain at the back of the heel area and may radiate up the back of the leg a little, but not as far up as the calf.

Are you struggling from pain in your heel?

Heel pain is sometimes accompanied by arch pain but can also occur in isolation. The pain is usually noted in the heel area on standing after rest and sometimes only noticed after playing. This can be a result of overuse, poor biomechanics or due to the equipment not functioning correctly or being too worn to function properly, such as a spike protruding in the sole of the shoe.

Have you got pain in the side of the foot near the outside of your ankle?

This problem may be due to rubbing from inside the shoe. Inappropriate shoe fitting or poor landing during the delivery of the ball whilst bowling can also be a cause.

Cricket injury and other sports injury issues.

If you are suffering from a cricket injury or any other sports-related injury, contact our clinics in Beeston, Nottinghamshire and Ilkeston, Derbyshire. You can book an appointment with a clinician online or contact our clinics directly. You can find out about our sports injury treatment options here.