Players, Check Your Feet!

Nearly 1/5 of the population has feet that do not develop with enough of a support arch.  No matter what the sport, footwork and balance is the foundation to all sports performance.

Players should be aware of whether or not they have flat feet prior to concerning themselves with agility and change of direction speed. Although having flat feet poses no disadvantage to athletic performance,  Patellar tendinitis can be caused by problems with the way your hips, legs, knees or feet are aligned.

I should know.  By the time I left high school, I had already had 4 knee surgeries.  2 on each knee.   I never tore anything.  No miniscus, ACL, MCL, LCL.  None of them.  But I had my first 2 knee surgeries when I was 15.

My knee injuries were more related to what track and field athletes refer to as "Jumper's Knee" - or what doctor's call:  Patellar Tendinitis. And yes, severe cases are very painful, and require surgery.

My knee injuries were due to 3 factors:

1).  Having Extremely flat feet. (which I wasn't aware of at the time)

2).  Having a leg length discrepancy of nearly an inch. (Where one leg is longer than the other causing pelvic rotation in asymmetrical muscle balance)

3).  Repeated pounding, running, changing directions, and especially jumping year round playing sports.  Particularly from Playing BASKETBALL!!! (The Greatest Game Ever!)

 

Unlike football, where players tend to have rotational tears of knee ligaments and impact injuries, basketball players tend to have wear and tear injuries to knees.  Same with Volleyball players, only volleyball players tend to jump with a more controlled vertical vector (more often straight up and down off two feet). Conversely, basketball players frequently are jumping off 1 foot or 2 feet - in multiple directions.

 

At some point this year, you will have to take a physical to play sports in high school.  If you have not already, next time you go to your doctor, have them check your feet and your leg lengths. 

The combination of having a leg length discrepancy, flat feet, and playing basketball thousands and thousands of hours destroyed my knees, and ended my sports career by the time I got to college.

 

Probably a good enough reason for athletes to Check their feet!