Foot pain is one of many injuries that occur in the popular sport of football. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2007, "more than 920,000 young people 18 and under were treated for football-related injuries in hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices, and clinics." Football cleats can improve performance, but they also can create foot pain.
Types
Choosing the appropriate cleats for your position can decrease your risk of injury. Low cleats are the lightest and provide the most maneuverability, but they give minimal support to your foot and ankle. If you are a quarterback, you might feel that this shoe provides adequate support. A mid-top cleat increases support while maintaining your ability to move quickly from side to side.Players in specialty positions, such as wide receiver and running back, often use this cleat. High-tops give the most support, but they decrease your flexibility of motion and are a heavier shoe. High-tops are best for positions requiring stability without the need for quick movement, such as lineman.
Sprains/Strains
Rolling your foot or ankle stresses your supporting soft tissue. Stretching the ligaments too far results in a sprain. A strain is damage to your muscles and tendons. The amount of movement and contact in football increases the risk for these injuries. The purpose of the cleat is to grip the surface, providing more traction for improved performance. Impact to your body while your foot is in a set position increases your risk of sprain or strain. If the surface is hard and the cleat sits on top of the ground, you have a greater potential to roll with cutting or turning movements.
Arch Pain
Your arches provide shock absorption for your body. Without proper support, they will stretch and can become painful. Your arches include the metatarsal arch, which runs along the base of your toes, the outer-longitudinal and the inner-longitudinal. The inner-longitudinal arch, or the arch that follows the inside length of your foot, is the most commonly injured.. Arch supports or inserts can increase support for painful arches, but they can be difficult to fit into the low-profile design of football cleats.
Heel Pain
Heel pain at the bottom of your heel can be caused by stress to the plantar fascia where it inserts at the calcaneus (heel bone) or as the result of not enough padding in your football cleats. Achilles tendinitis is another heel problem that you can develop. This is an inflammation of the heel cord. According to "Podiatry Today," "Adolescent athletes may be heavy and strong enough to drive the large heel spikes into the ground but not the large forefoot studs that remain on top of the ground. This forces a relative dorsi-flexion of the foot and may increase strain on the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon." Severs disease, an overuse injury to the growth plate at the heel, is negatively impacted by cleats as well.
Prevention/Solution
Proper footwear for the activities that you are doing, as well as proper stretching of the calf musculature, can help prevent and solve foot pain. Prolonged running in cleats, such as during conditioning, can create problems. Change into shoes specifically designed for running. Heel gel pads increase cushion and shock absorption, alleviating some of the stress placed on your feet. Make sure that your cleats fit properly and are comfortable. If you experience unrelieved foot pain, seek medical advice.
