• Foot or Ankle Sprains – A sprain occurs when the ligaments surrounding the joint are overextended or torn. This can happen when the foot or ankle are forced to rotate over its normal range of motion. When a muscle or tendon suffers a similar injury, it is referred to as a strain (tendonitis).

• Fractures – A break in a bone, often caused by a high impact. The toes and ankles often bear the brunt of fractures, but any bone can realistically suffer a break.

• Turf Toe – This is a sprain of the joint at the base of the big toe, often suffered when the toe is forcefully bent upward. It gets its name for the frequency it happens in field sports, especially when someone is wearing cleats, and their foot gets planted in a fixed position against the ground.

• Stress Fractures – Unlike a standard fracture, a stress fracture creates small cracks along the surface of the bone. Continuing to apply force to the bone often results in pain and can make the cracks worse over time.

• Tendonitis – The tendons that run down the foot and ankle from the leg can become inflamed after a sudden increase of repeated activity. This can create tiny tears in the tendon, which can become progressively worse without treatment or recovery.

• Morton’s Neuroma – This is a thickening of nerve tissue at the ball of the foot that is common among runners. The repeated pounding of the feet against hard surfaces can cause irritation and compression of the nerve, leading to sensations of pain, tingling, or numbness.

• Black Toenail – Another condition often seen among runners is a contusion of the toe that results in a collection of blood beneath a toenail often caused by the repetitive striking of the nail against the inside of a shoe. The discoloration can be accompanied by a throbbing pain, and sometimes the toenail will fall off.