Surgeons Warn: Skateboarding Tough on Feet, Ankles (2024)

Board tricks, repeated foot impact can lead to serious injury.

Children and young adults love the thrill of skateboarding. They learn to master their skills of "riding the rail" and "catching air." But according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), such tricks, while fun, can be physically demanding and can cause serious foot and ankle injuries.

Foot and ankle surgeons around the country warn they continue to see serious lower-extremity skateboard injuries among their patients. These injuries range from minor bruises to open wounds or cuts to more serious foot and ankle sprains and fractures, which may require surgical repair.

Virginia-based foot and ankle surgeon, Jennifer Purvis, DPM, FACFAS, advises skateboarders to use caution and to wear protective gear, including properly supportive shoes, when skateboarding. "Skateboarding can be particularly hard on your feet and ankles because of the impact caused when performing jumps and tricks," Dr. Purvis explains. "Skateboarders should be aware that the strain from repetitive, forceful motions can also cause painful foot and heel conditions, such as plantar fasciitis, bone spurs, fractures (traumatic or stress) and Achilles tendonitis, which may require more intensive, longer-term therapies," she said.

Even minor cuts or abrasions on your feet can cause serious problems. Dr. Purvis recently treated a 21-year-old skateboarder for scrapes on his feet and ankles that were not healing. Tests indicated he had contracted MRSA, a very serious and sometimes deadly staph infection, which required surgery and four weeks of antibiotic therapy.

Foot and ankle sprains and fractures are common skateboarding injuries. Karl Collins, DPM, FACFAS, who practices in St. Louis, stresses the importance of seeing a foot and ankle surgeon to ensure proper diagnosis and course of treatment for these injuries. Until you can be seen by a doctor, it is best to take a break from activities and use RICE therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), which helps reduce pain and control swelling around the injury.

"A common misconception about foot and ankle fractures is that if you can walk on the foot, there isn't a fracture," Dr. Collins said. "That's not always the case, and only a proper diagnosis can rule out a serious injury requiring an advanced treatment plan."

Surgeons Warn: Skateboarding Tough on Feet, Ankles (2024)

FAQs

Surgeons Warn: Skateboarding Tough on Feet, Ankles? ›

Foot and ankle surgeons

Foot and ankle surgeons
Foot and ankle surgery is a sub-specialty of orthopedics and podiatry that deals with the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of disorders of the foot and ankle.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Foot_and_ankle_surgery
around the country warn they continue to see serious lower-extremity skateboard injuries among their patients. These injuries range from minor bruises to open wounds or cuts to more serious foot and ankle sprains and fractures, which may require surgical repair.

How to protect your ankles when skateboarding? ›

Wearing proper shoes is a must. Skateboarding shoes tend to have flat soles designed to grip the skateboarding deck, although these shoes tend to also have little to no arch support. This could be fixed with the use of custom or over-the-counter orthotics.

What is the most common ankle injury when skateboarding? ›

Tendonitis and Ankle Sprains:

Also, a common skateboarding injury due to overuse and/or landing wrong resulting in a sprain of the ankle. These usually present with localized pain, swelling, and stiffness. Tendonitis/sprains could also present with pain when pushing through the foot.

Why does my ankle bone hurt after skating? ›

Bursitis in the ankle

These can get damaged and inflamed as a result of repeated impact, a single injury or wearing tight footwear (such as ice skates). This bursitis can lead to pinching in the structures of the ankle (impingement), and pressure on nerves – with symptoms of pain, tenderness and swelling.

Do high tops protect ankles skateboarding? ›

Many skate pros opt for high-tops because they offer added ankle support and additional protection. While they won't prevent you from rolling your ankle, the maximum cushioning can help prevent that nasty razor tail.

Is skateboarding hard on ankles? ›

"Skateboarding can be particularly hard on your feet and ankles because of the impact caused when performing jumps and tricks," Dr. Purvis explains.

How do I stop my ankles from hurting when I skate? ›

Wear thick socks and add more padding if necessary.

Of course, you may still need to make a few adjustments, so get some moleskin from the drugstore, cut it to shape, and stick it inside your skate boot anywhere that you feel painful friction forming.

What sport is hardest on your ankles? ›

Sports that cause the most ankle injuries are football, basketball, soccer, tennis, and running. Football is a rough sport that can cause, among other things, high ankle sprains. A high ankle sprain is an injury that happens from the outward twisting of the foot or ankle.

Do skaters have bad ankles? ›

The stiffness restricts ankle movement in the boot & holds the ankle up. This allows for jump execution but also as a result most skaters have fairly weak ankles. This can cause injuries in the foot including ankle sprains, tendonitis & bursitis or even knee, hip and low back pain.

Is skateboarding good for your ankles? ›

The most frequent foot and ankle problems skateboarders encounter are heel bruises, flat feet, and ankle rolls. If you skateboard and want to continue doing this for some time, it is important to take care of your feet. Wash, dry, and moisturize them daily.

Why do my feet hurt so bad after skating? ›

The other most common cause of foot pain from roller skating is known as lace bite or tongue bite, and it's pretty much what you'd expect from the name—tight lacing on your skate causing it to cut into the tendons of your foot, hence the “bite.” The pain is generally sharp and can occur on the top of the foot from the ...

What is ankle skating? ›

An ankle skater is someone who constantly skates on an inside edge on both blades, making it look like their feet are turned in. It's as if you were bending your knees while touching one knee to another. I'm not sure if this made much sense, but I hope it somewhat helped you.

Why does skating hurt my feet so much? ›

Improperly laced or fitted skates

If your skates are too big or too small, you can end up with painful blisters and chafing, or even worse conditions like hammer toe. If your skates are the right size, but are laced too tightly, you can end up with lace bite.

Are high tops better for weak ankles? ›

Research does support the idea high-top shoes provide good stability when outside forces may cause an ankle sprain when the person is stationary (for example, when a person standing still is knocked from the side and starts to topple over, putting stress on the ankle).

Why do skateboarders wear high socks? ›

Long socks can also offer some protection against scrapes and chafing, but fashion is probably the main reason. Skateboarders are used to scrapes. Of course, not all skateboarders wear long socks. Some wear ankle-length socks and some choose to go sockless.

Why does my ankle hurt from skateboarding? ›

Skating places a huge demand on the feet, calves and ankles and forces the joint and muscles of the area to go way beyond their normal function. As a result, skaters tighten up in these areas and can commonly face injuries such as hot pockets, ankle rolls, tendonitis or even just general soreness.

Why do I roll my ankle so much when skateboarding? ›

To perform various combinations of skateboarding tricks, both ankles must be in simultaneous plantarflexion and inversion, which can cause strain on the lateral ligaments, thereby making the ligaments vulnerable to injury and the ankle joint susceptible to repeated sprains.

How do you not get injured when skateboarding? ›

Wear Proper Protective Gear
  1. A properly fitting helmet.
  2. Wrist guards help support the wrist and reduce the chances of breaking a bone if you fall.
  3. Knee and elbow pads reduce the severity of cuts and scrapes, and prevent gravel burns.
  4. Closed-toe shoes that have slip-resistant soles, rather than sandals.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Domingo Moore

Last Updated:

Views: 6254

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Domingo Moore

Birthday: 1997-05-20

Address: 6485 Kohler Route, Antonioton, VT 77375-0299

Phone: +3213869077934

Job: Sales Analyst

Hobby: Kayaking, Roller skating, Cabaret, Rugby, Homebrewing, Creative writing, amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Domingo Moore, I am a attractive, gorgeous, funny, jolly, spotless, nice, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.