Here are a few of the injuries that are common among swimmers:
1. Cramps
Chances are, you’ve had a foot cramp at some point in your life, and it may have occurred while swimming. Foot cramps are a sharp pain that happens in the arch of your foot or in the tendon on top of your foot. When your muscles don’t have enough oxygen from lack of water or nutrients, they will tighten up and make your foot very uncomfortable. Fortunately, a foot cramp usually isn’t serious, and you can usually treat it by sitting down and giving it a massage until the pain ceases. If you get cramps multiple times a day, it could indicate a more serious problem, and it would be wise to see a podiatrist.
2. Ankle Tendonitis
Ankle problems tend to be more common in frequent swimmers more often than recreational swimmers, but anyone can experience them. Ankle Tendonitis is the result of stretching and flexing your foot while matched with the resistance of the water. It creates a painful inflammation of the tendons in your ankle. If your ankles are sore from swimming, you need to get some rest! If they haven’t gotten any better after a few days, then you need to visit a foot doctor as you may have a more serious condition than Ankle Tendonitis.
3. Heel pain
This kind of pain can develop from any impactful injury, such as jabbing your heel while running. However, in swimmers it most likely comes from kicking off the wall when performing laps in a race. Competitive swimmers need to work on their timing and make proper contact with the wall when performing turns. Recreational swimmers need to be careful too. If you run and jump in the pool you need to take care not to jump in shallow water as you might spike your heel on the floor of the pool and develop heel pain. Fortunately, like a bruise, this pain will go away if you rest and give it time to heal. If it persists after a few days, your injury may be serious and you need to see a podiatrist.
Call Kansas City Foot Specialists to schedule an evaluation at (913) 338-4440, or request an appointment online so we can determine the true cause of your injury and get you back on your feet.
