Football injuries to the foot and ankle can result from running, side to side cutting or direct contact from an opposing player during a tackle. Football players should be mindful of these four risks:

Ankle sprains caused by inversion can damage the ankle ligaments and occur simultaneously with peroneal tendon injuries and fractures.

Depending on the level of severity, ankle sprain, metatarsal fractures and Lisfranc fractures may take players out of the game and sometimes require surgery.

Bone bruises and contusions may be caused by direct trauma during tackling.

Excessive training may lead athletes to developing heel pain, also called plantar fasciitis; Achilles tendonitis, sesamoiditis, stress fractures or posterior tibial tendonitis (PTTD); or calcaneal apophysitis in youth 6 to 18 years of age.