Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon — Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI. Last updated April 2026.

Soccer and Foot Health: A High-Risk Sport

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in Michigan and globally, played by millions of youth and adult athletes from recreational leagues to competitive travel clubs. It is also one of the highest-risk sports for lower extremity injury, with foot and ankle injuries accounting for the largest proportion of soccer-related injuries across all age groups. The combination of running, jumping, cutting, contact, and kicking demands places enormous and varied stress on the feet and ankles of soccer players.

At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell and Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Dr. Tom Biernacki DPM treats soccer players from throughout Livingston and Oakland Counties — from youth recreational players through competitive high school and club athletes — providing sport-specific evaluation, treatment, and return-to-sport guidance. This guide covers the injuries most commonly seen in soccer players and what players and parents should know about managing them.

Ankle Sprains: The Most Common Soccer Injury

Lateral ankle sprains are the most frequent acute injury in soccer, occurring during the typical inversion mechanism of stepping on an opponent’s foot, landing awkwardly from a header attempt, or stepping in a divot on the field. Given the high frequency of direction changes, player contact, and turf irregularities in soccer, it is not surprising that ankle sprains are endemic to the sport.

Soccer players who sprain an ankle face the specific challenge of returning to a sport with intensive ankle demands while managing the rehabilitation requirements of full ligamentous healing. A sprain that receives inadequate rehabilitation — rushing back to play before proprioception, strength, and full range of motion are restored — predictably leads to chronic ankle instability and recurrent sprains. Soccer players with chronic ankle instability experience more frequent recurrent sprains, reduced performance from guarding the ankle, and ultimately may require surgical ligament reconstruction if functional instability persists despite rehabilitation.

Prevention programs specifically designed for soccer — most prominently the FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol — have been shown in large randomized trials to reduce ankle sprain incidence by approximately 30–50% when implemented consistently. The program includes balance work on one leg, dynamic strengthening, and soccer-specific agility exercises that address the neuromuscular risk factors for ankle sprains.

Sever’s Disease in Youth Soccer Players

Sever’s disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is the most common cause of heel pain in young soccer players, typically between ages 8 and 14. This growth plate irritation at the posterior calcaneus occurs when the rapid bone growth of adolescence temporarily outpaces the stretch of the Achilles tendon, which pulls on the calcaneal apophysis during activity. Cleated soccer shoes, which often have minimal heel elevation compared to training shoes, can aggravate this condition by placing the Achilles in greater tension during play.

Sever’s disease is not serious and does not cause permanent damage, but it can be quite painful and limit participation if not addressed. Treatment includes: heel cup inserts or orthotics that elevate the heel and cushion the apophysis, Achilles stretching and calf strengthening, temporary activity modification during severe flares, and reassurance that the condition will resolve when the growth plate closes (typically by age 15–16). Continuing in cleated shoes without modification during a significant Sever’s flare is not advised.

Turf Toe: A Problem for Artificial Surface Players

Turf toe — a sprain of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint from hyperextension of the big toe — was named for its association with artificial turf surfaces, where the harder, less forgiving surface amplifies the force of toe hyperextension when a cleat catches during play. Turf toe produces pain, swelling, and limited range of motion at the big toe MTP joint, and in more severe cases, tears the plantar plate — the fibrocartilaginous structure beneath the joint that resists hyperextension.

Treatment requires relative rest of the big toe, rigid-soled footwear or a carbon fiber turf toe plate to limit MTP extension, taping to restrict hyperextension, and in severe cases with plantar plate injury, surgical repair. The duration of recovery correlates with grade severity: mild turf toe may be playable with taping within 1–2 weeks; grade III injuries with plantar plate rupture may require 3–6 months for full recovery.

Stress Fractures in Competitive Soccer Players

Metatarsal stress fractures are particularly common in soccer players who train year-round on hard surfaces with high-volume running. The fifth metatarsal is notable because Jones fractures in soccer players have a high refracture rate with conservative management; competitive soccer players are commonly offered surgical fixation to ensure reliable healing and faster return to play. Any soccer player with midfoot pain that persists beyond 2 weeks without explanation should be evaluated for stress fracture before the injury progresses to complete fracture.

When Soccer Players Should See a Podiatrist

Soccer players should seek podiatric evaluation for: ankle sprains that do not improve significantly within 2–3 weeks; recurrent ankle sprains suggesting chronic instability; midfoot pain after field activity that doesn’t resolve with rest; heel pain interfering with play (whether Sever’s in youth or plantar fasciitis in adults); any sudden sharp pain with a specific mechanism during play; and persistent foot discomfort after a game or training session that doesn’t resolve with simple home care. Earlier evaluation consistently produces faster return to play by ensuring the correct diagnosis and most effective treatment from the start.

Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.

Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI

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When to See a Podiatrist for Youth Soccer Injuries

Soccer is a leading cause of foot and ankle injuries in children and teens. Early evaluation prevents minor injuries from becoming season-ending problems. Balance Foot & Ankle provides expert pediatric sports medicine for young athletes in Howell and Bloomfield Hills.

Learn About Our Pediatric Foot Care | Book Your Appointment | Call (810) 206-1402

Clinical References

1. Cloke DJ, et al. “The epidemiology of ankle injuries in English professional football.” British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2009;43(12):880-884.
2. Price RJ, et al. “The Football Association medical research programme: an audit of injuries in academy youth football.” British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2004;38(4):466-471.
3. Emery CA, Meeuwisse WH. “Risk factors for injury in indoor compared with outdoor adolescent soccer.” American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006;34(10):1636-1642.

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon 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 reached over one million views.