When the joints of the foot are torn or otherwise damaged due to excessive or repetitive stress placed on the foot, it can damage the foot’s cartilage and connective tissue. This injury, known as a foot sprain, also can result from a forceful twisting of the foot during sports, especially contact sports (such as football), running and gymnastics. It can also be due to long-term strain among people with low arches or flat feet.
Symptoms of a foot sprain include pain when the sprain occurs, as well as lingering pain that may not begin immediately (it may begin the next morning) and which is exacerbated by activities such as standing on one’s toes, jumping and running. The foot, toes or ankle may all be painful, and pressing on the foot may cause pain or tenderness.
If you suspect you have sprained your foot, consult a sports medicine specialist. He or she can evaluate your injury, possibly using diagnostic tools such as X-ray, computed tomography (CT), or a magnetic resonance image (MRI) to rule out other possible sources of your pain, such as a bone fracture.
If you do have a foot sprain, it’s important to take a break from all activities that cause you pain and exacerbate the injury; to make sure you do not put any pressure on the affected foot, you may need to use crutches. Additionally, taping the foot or using a brace also can be useful, as these protect the joints of the foot from further becoming damaged. Icing and using compression bandages on the foot can also reduce swelling and spur a quicker recovery.
It’s important to remember that after resting the foot until it heals, strengthening or rehabilitation exercises likely will be necessary to strengthen and stretch the foot after the period of immobilization. With the aid of these exercises, you should little by little return to your athletic regimen, adding mileage and increasing training time gradually.
To prevent the return of a sprain, people with poor arches might benefit from shoe orthotics to support the foot. Additionally, adding mileage slowly can avoid putting too much strain on the foot and can help you keep the foot healthy.