What does a podiatrist treat?

Podiatrists specialize in the foot, ankle, and lower leg. They diagnose and treat heel pain, bunions and hammertoes, tendon injuries, nerve conditions (Morton's neuroma, neuropathy), toenail disorders, skin conditions (warts, calluses, ulcers), fractures, sports injuries, diabetic foot complications, ankle instability, and perform foot and ankle surgery. At Balance Foot & Ankle, Dr. Tom Biernacki DPM, Dr. Carl Jay DPM, and Dr. Daria Gutkin DPM AACFAS serve Howell, Bloomfield Hills, and surrounding Michigan communities.

How often should a healthy person see a podiatrist?

Annual foot exams are beneficial if you are over 60, are an active runner or athlete, have diabetes, have a family history of foot problems, or notice any changes in foot shape, nail appearance, or skin texture. Preventive visits catch problems early — before bunions require surgery or a small nail issue becomes an infection.

Can foot problems cause knee, hip, or back pain?

Yes — the foot is the foundation of the kinetic chain. Overpronation causes the tibia to internally rotate, increasing stress on the knee and altering hip alignment. High arches transmit shock poorly, overloading the ankle and knee. Custom orthotics that correct foot mechanics frequently improve knee, hip, and back symptoms — one of the most underappreciated benefits of podiatric care.

When should I see a podiatrist versus an orthopedic surgeon?

Podiatrists specialize exclusively in the foot, ankle, and lower leg — making them the most experienced providers for most foot and ankle conditions. For foot and ankle surgery, a DPM with high case volume is appropriate. Dr. Tom Biernacki at Balance Foot & Ankle has performed over 3,000 foot and ankle procedures. Call (810) 206-1402.

Foot and Ankle Pain in Athletes 2026

Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-certified podiatric surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
Last reviewed: May 2026

Foot Ankle Pain Athletes Guide Prevention Treatment - Michigan podiatrist, Balance Foot & Ankle — Foot Ankle Pain Athletes Guide Prevention Treatment treatment | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan

Injury Type	Common Conditions	Typical Sport	Mechanism	Initial Treatment
Overuse / Repetitive Stress	Plantar fasciitis; Achilles tendinopathy; metatarsal stress fracture; peroneal tendinopathy	Running; basketball; tennis	Repetitive loading exceeding tissue capacity; training errors	Load reduction; biomechanical correction; gradual return
Acute Ligament Sprain	ATFL/CFL lateral ankle sprain; Lisfranc sprain; turf toe	All field sports; basketball	Inversion; hyperextension; impact	RICE; functional brace; PT; WBAT as tolerated
Acute Fracture	Jones fracture; ankle fracture; calcaneus fracture; toe fracture	Basketball; football; gymnastics	High-energy impact; landing; collision	X-ray; immobilization; orthopedic/podiatric evaluation
Tendon Rupture	Achilles rupture; peroneus brevis tear; FHL rupture	Basketball; racquet sports; middle-age athletes	Eccentric load; acceleration; forced dorsiflexion	Immobilization; surgery vs functional bracing based on patient profile
Nerve Entrapment	Tarsal tunnel; sural nerve; interdigital neuroma; Baxter nerve	Runners; cyclists	Repetitive compression; shoe pressure	Footwear modification; orthotic; nerve injection; possible release

Return to Sport Decision	Criteria	Tool
Pain-free status	Less than 1/10 pain with sport-specific activity	Numeric rating scale
Single-leg heel rise	20+ reps without pain; equal to contralateral limb	Functional strength test
Ankle stability	Star Excursion Balance Test symmetry greater than 90%	SEBT; Y-Balance Test
Sport-specific loading	Running; cutting; jumping without pain or compensation	Movement screen; video analysis
Imaging clearance (stress fractures)	MRI: resolved marrow edema; cortical bridging	MRI or CT for high-risk fractures

Quick answer: Treatment for foot ankle pain athletes guide prevention treatment follows a stepwise approach: 1) conservative care first (rest, ice, supportive footwear, OTC anti-inflammatories), 2) physical therapy and targeted exercises, 3) in-office treatments (injections, custom orthotics) if conservative fails at 4-6 weeks, 4) surgery for refractory cases. Most patients resolve at step 1 or 2. Call (810) 206-1402.

Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8opvH3qxkW4

Dr. Tom Biernacki discusses the most common foot and ankle injuries in athletes, prevention strategies, and when to seek sports podiatry care at Balance Foot & Ankle Michigan.

Sports podiatrist treating athletic foot and ankle injury at Balance Foot and Ankle Michigan

Watch: Inside of the Ankle Pain [Posterior Tibial Tendonitis Treatment] — MichiganFootDoctors YouTube

Watch: Sports injury prevention & treatment

MICHIGAN PODIATRIST INSIGHT

The most important clinical decision with Foot Ankle Pain Athletes Guide Prevention Treatment isn’t which treatment to start with — it’s identifying the correct subtype. That changes everything. Call (810) 206-1402.

MICHIGAN PODIATRIST INSIGHT

Why Foot and Ankle Health Is Critical for Athletes

The foot and ankle are the primary interface between the athlete and the ground — the foundation upon which all athletic movement depends. During running, the ankle and foot collectively absorb up to eight times body weight with each footstrike. During jumping and cutting sports, forces are even higher. The complexity of the foot — 26 bones, 33 joints, more than 100 ligaments and tendons — creates both extraordinary biomechanical capability and significant vulnerability to injury.

Foot and ankle injuries account for approximately 25% of all sports injuries across disciplines. In running sports, the foot and ankle are responsible for the majority of overuse injuries. In court sports (basketball, tennis, volleyball), ankle sprains are the most common acute injury. Understanding the injury patterns specific to each sport, and addressing the underlying biomechanical predispositions to injury, is the core of sports podiatry at Balance Foot & Ankle.

Most Common Athletic Foot and Ankle Injuries

Ankle sprains are the most common acute sports injury, responsible for 25,000 visits to emergency departments daily in the United States. The lateral ligament complex (ATFL, CFL, PTFL) is injured in approximately 85% of ankle sprains from inversion mechanisms. High ankle sprains (syndesmotic injuries) occur with external rotation and dorsiflexion mechanisms, most commonly in contact sports. Appropriate initial management and rehabilitation determine whether the ankle heals fully or develops chronic instability.

Achilles tendinopathy — insertional (at the heel attachment) and non-insertional (in the mid-portion of the tendon 2–6 cm above insertion) — is among the most common running injuries, particularly in masters athletes (age 35+). Plantar fasciitis causes heel pain that sidelines runners, basketball players, and tennis players across all levels. Metatarsal stress fractures — particularly involving the 2nd, 3rd, and navicular bones — are common in distance runners and gymnasts, while the Jones fracture (5th metatarsal diaphysis) is characteristic of court sport athletes. Turf toe (first metatarsophalangeal joint sprain from forced dorsiflexion) is epidemic in American football players on artificial surfaces.

Peroneal tendon injuries — tenosynovitis, longitudinal tears, and subluxation — commonly affect runners and court sport athletes. Sinus tarsi syndrome creates lateral ankle pain from the subtalar joint complex, often following an ankle sprain. Posterior impingement syndrome (os trigonum or posterior talar process compression) causes posterior ankle pain in ballet dancers and soccer players during plantarflexion. Each diagnosis requires precise identification for appropriate, targeted treatment.

The Role of Biomechanics in Sports Injuries

Many sports injuries are not bad luck — they are the predictable outcome of identifiable biomechanical risk factors operating under training load. Understanding these factors is central to sports podiatric evaluation at Balance Foot & Ankle. Overpronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot during the stance phase of gait) is associated with medial tibial stress syndrome, posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction, plantar fasciitis, and patellofemoral pain. Supination (underpronation) is associated with lateral ankle instability, stress fractures, and metatarsalgia. Leg length discrepancy creates asymmetric loading patterns causing overuse injuries on the longer-limb side. Foot type (flat vs. high arch) significantly influences which injuries an athlete is predisposed to develop.

Training errors — sudden increases in volume, intensity, or frequency beyond what the musculoskeletal system can adapt to — are the most common precipitating factor for overuse injuries. A sudden increase of more than 10% in weekly mileage is a well-established risk factor for running injuries. Inappropriate footwear for the athlete’s foot type and biomechanics, inadequate recovery between training sessions, and poor running or court mechanics all compound the risk. Sports podiatric evaluation identifies the modifiable factors and designs interventions — footwear correction, custom orthotics, technique cues, training modification — to reduce injury recurrence.

Return-to-Sport Criteria and Protocols

Returning to sport too early after a foot or ankle injury is the most common cause of re-injury and chronic problems. Evidence-based return-to-sport criteria ensure that athletes return only when they have fully recovered — not just when pain has subsided. Pain with activity is a relatively late finding in healing tissue; structural integrity and neuromuscular function recovery occur at different rates than pain resolution.

Return-to-sport criteria for ankle sprains include: full, pain-free range-of-motion; peroneal strength symmetrical to the uninjured side (>90%); ability to perform single-leg squat, hop, and agility tasks without pain or apprehension; and normal proprioception on balance testing. For stress fractures, imaging confirmation of healing (MRI or CT showing bridging callus and resolution of bone marrow edema) is required before return to full loading. Return-to-run protocols for soft tissue injuries (plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy) follow graduated volume increases with systematic monitoring for symptom recurrence.

Sports Orthotics for Athletic Performance

Custom sports orthotics are among the most powerful tools in sports podiatry. Unlike accommodative orthotics designed for daily wear comfort, sports orthotics are functional devices engineered to modify the ground reaction forces and joint moments at the foot and ankle during athletic activity. They are designed for specific sports (running, court sports, cycling, skiing) and fabricated from materials with appropriate energy return and durability for athletic use.

Dr. Biernacki prescribes custom sports orthotics based on comprehensive biomechanical evaluation including static foot examination, dynamic gait analysis, and sport-specific loading assessment. Orthotics are specified precisely: shell material (polypropylene, carbon fiber, or flexible thermoplastic), shell thickness, intrinsic and extrinsic posting, top cover material, and sport-specific modifications (deep heel cup for heel pain, Morton’s extension for turf toe protection, metatarsal dome for metatarsalgia). They are paired with appropriate footwear recommendations for each athlete’s sport and foot type.

Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations

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Zamst A2-DX Ankle Brace

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Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation

Sports podiatry is where my passion really comes through. I love working with athletes — understanding their sport, their training, their goals — and figuring out how to keep them healthy and performing at their best. The most rewarding cases are when I identify a biomechanical issue that’s been causing injury after injury for years, address it with orthotics or technique changes, and watch the athlete have their first injury-free season. That’s a result that goes beyond just treating the acute problem.

— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common foot and ankle injury in athletes?

Lateral ankle sprains are the most common acute sports injury overall. For running athletes, Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis are the most common overuse injuries. Stress fractures of the metatarsals and navicular are common in high-mileage runners and gymnasts. The most common injury varies significantly by sport — court athletes have high rates of ankle sprains while runners predominately develop overuse syndromes.

How long does it take for a sprained ankle to heal in an athlete?

Grade 1 sprains (ligament stretch, no tear) typically heal in 1–2 weeks. Grade 2 sprains (partial tear) take 3–6 weeks. Grade 3 sprains (complete rupture) take 8–12 weeks for return to sport. The timeline depends heavily on rehabilitation compliance — athletes who complete peroneal strengthening and proprioception training return faster and have lower re-sprain rates than those who return with only rest.

Should athletes see a podiatrist or orthopedist for foot injuries?

Both are appropriate depending on the injury. Podiatrists specialize specifically in foot and ankle conditions and have deep expertise in this region. For most foot and ankle sports injuries — ankle sprains, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, metatarsal stress fractures, and neuromas — a sports podiatrist is an excellent choice. Complex intra-articular injuries or those requiring orthopedic hardware may be co-managed with orthopedics.

Do custom orthotics actually help athletes?

Yes — when prescribed appropriately based on biomechanical evaluation. Custom sports orthotics modify ground reaction forces, reduce joint moments at injury-prone areas, and correct biomechanical loading patterns that predispose athletes to injury. Evidence supports their use for plantar fasciitis, posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction, metatarsalgia, and various running overuse injuries. They are not magic — they work best as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

When should an athlete see a podiatrist?

Athletes should seek podiatric evaluation for any foot or ankle injury that causes pain during activity, any ankle sprain that doesn’t resolve within 2 weeks, any suspected stress fracture (point tenderness over a bone with pain during activity), any Achilles or heel pain persisting more than 4 weeks, and any episode of ankle giving way. Early evaluation prevents minor injuries from becoming season-ending problems.

Michigan Foot Pain? See Dr. Biernacki In Person

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In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle

If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your foot ankle pain athletes guide prevention treatment, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-day evaluations and advanced in-office care.

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Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified foot & ankle surgeon (ABFAS & ABPM) at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has made him one of the most-followed foot & ankle educators on YouTube.