When participating in athletics you subject your feet to increased stress and injury. Running can place up to three times the person’s weight on one foot. A poorly functioning foot can become overloaded. Common athletic injuries and disorders include shin splints, tendonitis, sprained ankles, stress fractures, heel spurs, and arch pain. Shin splints are due to overuse of muscles resulting in pain and swelling of the lower leg. Tendonitis is often due to tight or overused muscles applying excessive stress on tendons resulting in inflamation. Stress fractures occur when a bone is overstressed and its structure fatigues and cracks. Heel spurs form when excessive stress is applied to the fibrous band or fascial tissue attaching to the heel bone. Arch pain is often a result of muscle fatigue or poor biochemical foot structure. A thorough biochemical evaluation is often helpful to prevent these injuries and disorders. Proper shoes to fit the sport, excercises, and orthotics are helpful to reduce injury. Dr. Sextro, Dr. Larsen and Dr. Bandel are very efficient at treating your sport injuries involving the foot and ankle.