What injuries does a sports podiatrist treat?

Sports podiatrists treat stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, ankle sprains, shin splints, Morton's neuroma, metatarsal injuries, and turf toe. Balance Foot & Ankle helps athletes in Howell and Bloomfield Hills, MI return to sport faster.

Can I see a podiatrist for a running injury?

Absolutely. Running injuries are a podiatrist's specialty. We perform gait analysis, biomechanical assessment, and provide custom orthotics and treatment plans specifically for runners. Same-day appointments available at Balance Foot & Ankle.

When should an athlete see a podiatrist for a foot or ankle injury?

Athletes should see a podiatrist for any foot or ankle pain that persists beyond 3–5 days, causes significant limping, involves visible swelling or bruising, follows a 'pop' or snap sound, or recurs with every training session. Early evaluation prevents minor injuries from becoming chronic problems and gets you back to training sooner.

Does Balance Foot & Ankle treat professional and collegiate athletes?

Yes. Our sports medicine podiatrists treat athletes at all levels — from youth recreational leagues through high school, collegiate, and professional athletes. We understand the performance demands and time-sensitive return-to-sport goals that competitive athletes face, and we build treatment plans accordingly.

Can I continue training while being treated for a sports foot injury?

In many cases, yes. We work to keep athletes as active as possible during recovery through activity modification — cross-training, pool running, cycling, or upper body work — while the injured tissue heals. Complete rest is rarely required and is only recommended when continued training risks converting a minor injury into a serious one.

What is EPAT shockwave therapy and is it painful?

EPAT (Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology) uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate blood flow, break down scar tissue, and accelerate healing in tendons and fascia. Most patients describe the sensation as a deep pressure or tapping during the 15-minute session. There is typically minimal to no downtime, and athletes can return to modified activity the same day.

Do you accept insurance for sports medicine podiatry visits in Michigan?

Yes. Balance Foot & Ankle accepts most major insurance plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Medicare at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills offices. Coverage for specific treatments varies by plan. We recommend calling our office to verify your specific coverage before your appointment.

Sports Medicine Podiatry Michigan | Athlete Foot & Ankle Care | Balance Foot & Ankle

Athletes push their bodies to the limit, and the feet and ankles bear the greatest burden of that effort. Whether you are a competitive runner, weekend warrior, youth athlete, or recreational sports enthusiast, foot and ankle injuries can sideline you and affect your long-term performance. At Balance Foot & Ankle, our board-certified podiatrists specialize in sports medicine podiatry for patients throughout Michigan, with convenient offices in Howell and Bloomfield Hills.

Our sports medicine podiatry team understands that getting you back to full activity as quickly and safely as possible is the priority. We use the most current evidence-based treatments — from advanced regenerative therapies to precision biomechanical analysis — to help athletes of all levels recover faster and perform better.

Common Sports-Related Foot & Ankle Injuries We Treat

Sports place repetitive stress and sudden traumatic forces on the foot and ankle complex. The most common sports-related conditions we treat include: Learn more about our plantar fasciitis and heel pain services.

Ankle Sprains and Ligament Injuries

Ankle sprains are the most common sports injury in the United States, accounting for approximately 25,000 occurrences every day. Lateral ankle sprains (involving the ATFL and CFL ligaments) occur when the foot rolls inward, stretching or tearing ligaments on the outer ankle. Without proper treatment, ankle sprains commonly lead to chronic ankle instability, arthritis, and re-injury. Learn more about our custom orthotics for athletes services.

Our podiatrists grade ankle sprains and design individualized treatment plans that may include RICE protocol, immobilization, physical therapy referrals, custom ankle bracing, and when necessary, surgical ligament reconstruction. We use diagnostic ultrasound and X-ray to rule out associated fractures and guide treatment decisions.

Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain in Athletes

Runners, basketball players, and athletes who train on hard surfaces frequently develop plantar fasciitis — inflammation of the thick band of tissue running along the bottom of the foot. Athletes with plantar fasciitis experience stabbing heel pain with the first steps in the morning and after periods of inactivity, and the pain often worsens with increased training loads.

We treat athletic plantar fasciitis with a combination of stretching protocols, custom foot orthotics, EPAT shockwave therapy, MLS laser therapy, cortisone injections, and night splints. Our goal is to resolve plantar fasciitis without requiring surgery in the vast majority of cases.

Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Stress fractures are tiny cracks in bone caused by repetitive loading without adequate recovery time. In athletes, the metatarsal bones, navicular, and calcaneus (heel bone) are most commonly affected. Distance runners, military recruits, basketball players, and gymnasts face the highest risk. Stress fractures present as diffuse aching pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest.

Proper diagnosis requires X-ray, and sometimes MRI, as stress fractures are often missed on initial imaging. Treatment involves activity modification, protective boot immobilization, and a gradual return-to-sport protocol. High-risk stress fractures (navicular, fifth metatarsal Jones fractures) may require surgical fixation for optimal outcomes in competitive athletes.

Achilles Tendinopathy and Rupture

The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body, yet it is highly susceptible to sports-related injury. Achilles tendinopathy (chronic degeneration from overuse) causes pain, stiffness, and swelling at the back of the ankle, typically 2–6 cm above where the tendon inserts into the heel. Achilles tendon rupture — a complete or partial tear — occurs suddenly with a “pop” sensation, often during explosive movements like sprinting or jumping.

We manage Achilles tendinopathy with eccentric strengthening programs, EPAT shockwave therapy, MLS laser, heel lifts, and custom orthotics. Achilles tendon ruptures in athletes are typically treated surgically to restore full strength and reduce re-rupture risk, followed by structured rehabilitation.

Turf Toe and First MTP Joint Injuries

Turf toe is a sprain of the plantar plate and ligaments at the base of the big toe, most often occurring in football players, soccer athletes, and gymnasts who train on artificial surfaces. The injury results from hyperextension of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and can range from mild ligament stretching to complete joint dislocation. Untreated turf toe causes long-term stiffness, pain, and functional limitation.

Treatment involves stiff-soled footwear modifications, taping, custom carbon fiber orthotics to limit joint motion, and progressive loading protocols. Severe cases with associated sesamoid fractures or grade III injuries may require surgical repair.

Sesamoiditis and Sesamoid Fractures

The two small sesamoid bones beneath the first MTP joint absorb significant impact forces during athletic activity, particularly in dancers, runners, and athletes who push off forcefully from the forefoot. Sesamoiditis (inflammation without fracture) and sesamoid stress fractures both cause pain under the ball of the foot that worsens with weight-bearing. Because sesamoids have poor blood supply, fractures heal slowly and require careful management to prevent avascular necrosis.

Peroneal Tendon Injuries

The peroneal tendons run along the outer ankle and stabilize the foot during athletic movement. Peroneal tendinopathy, subluxation (the tendon slipping out of its groove), and tears are common in runners, soccer players, and athletes who participate in court sports. These injuries cause lateral ankle pain and a snapping sensation with ankle movement. We diagnose peroneal tendon injuries with clinical examination and ultrasound or MRI imaging, and provide targeted treatments ranging from bracing and physical therapy to surgical tendon repair.

Advanced Sports Medicine Treatments at Balance Foot & Ankle

We offer the most current, evidence-based sports medicine treatments available in Michigan podiatry:

EPAT Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (Shockwave Therapy)

EPAT shockwave therapy uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate healing in chronic tendon and soft tissue injuries. It is FDA-cleared for plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy and has an excellent evidence base for athletic conditions. Sessions take approximately 15 minutes with no anesthesia required, and most athletes experience significant improvement within 3–5 sessions. EPAT is ideal for athletes who want to avoid steroid injections or surgery.

MLS Robotic Laser Therapy

Multiwave Locked System (MLS) laser therapy uses synchronized wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation, accelerate tissue repair, and relieve pain at the cellular level. It is particularly effective for Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, and post-surgical recovery. MLS laser is non-invasive, painless, and allows athletes to continue modified training during treatment.

Custom Athletic Orthotics

Biomechanical abnormalities — overpronation, supination, leg length discrepancy, forefoot valgus — create abnormal forces that predispose athletes to injury. Custom foot orthotics, fabricated from precise 3D digital scans of your feet, correct these biomechanical factors and redistribute load away from injured tissues. Athletic orthotics are designed specifically for the demands of your sport, whether you need a thin carbon fiber insole for cycling shoes, a high-impact orthotic for distance running, or a court-specific device for tennis.

Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging

In-office diagnostic ultrasound allows our podiatrists to visualize tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue structures in real time during your appointment. We use ultrasound to diagnose tendon tears, plantar plate injuries, neuromas, ganglia, and stress reactions — and to guide precise injections. Ultrasound-guided injections deliver medication exactly to the site of injury, improving accuracy and outcomes compared to landmark-based injection techniques.

Return-to-Sport Philosophy

At Balance Foot & Ankle, we understand that telling an athlete to “just rest” is rarely an acceptable long-term answer. Our return-to-sport approach follows evidence-based criteria — not arbitrary timelines — to ensure you return to full activity when your tissue has genuinely healed and your neuromuscular control has been restored. This reduces re-injury risk and protects your long-term athletic career.

For most sports injuries, we coordinate care with physical therapists, athletic trainers, and primary care sports medicine physicians to ensure comprehensive rehabilitation. Our podiatrists focus on the foot and ankle biomechanics and structural healing, while collaborating with your broader sports medicine team for full-body conditioning and sport-specific training.

Youth Athlete Foot & Ankle Care

Young athletes present unique challenges because their musculoskeletal systems are still developing. Growth plates (physes) are vulnerable to injury and stress, and conditions like Sever’s disease (calcaneal apophysitis), Iselin’s disease (fifth metatarsal apophysis), and osteochondral lesions of the talus occur specifically in adolescent athletes. Our podiatrists have extensive experience treating youth athletes and understanding the developmental factors that affect diagnosis and treatment decisions.

We work with young athletes to keep them active whenever safely possible, modifying activity rather than prescribing complete rest when appropriate, and educating parents and coaches about injury prevention and training load management.

Sports Injury Prevention Strategies

The best sports injury is the one that never happens. Our podiatrists provide comprehensive biomechanical screenings for athletes who want to identify and address risk factors before injuries occur. We evaluate foot type, arch structure, ankle range of motion, gait mechanics, and footwear to create personalized prevention strategies. Athletes with a history of ankle sprains may benefit from proprioceptive bracing and balance training. Runners with overpronation may prevent shin splints, stress fractures, and plantar fasciitis with properly fitted custom orthotics before symptoms develop.

Schedule a Sports Medicine Podiatry Appointment in Michigan

Don’t let a foot or ankle injury keep you out of the game longer than necessary. Balance Foot & Ankle’s sports medicine podiatry team is ready to help you recover faster, prevent re-injury, and reach your athletic potential. We see patients at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills offices, with convenient scheduling and same-week appointments for acute injuries. Call us today or request an appointment online.

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Board Certified Podiatrists