Warm weather and outdoor fun can be tough on your feet. Spring sports, whether you're wearing running shoes or cleats, can bring an increased risk of tendonitis and heel pain (plantar fasciitis). To read more about the symptoms of plantar fasciitis, also known as heel pain syndrome, including how it's treated, see: Heel Pain.

Cleats can be especially tough on children's feet and can sometimes cause pain at the back of the heel. To learn more: Heel Pain in Children and Adolescents.

Ankle sprains and Achilles tendon injuries are also common sports injuries this time of year. For more about the symptoms and types of foot and ankle tendonitis, including  information about Achilles tendonitis, see: Tendonitis.

On a hot day, the temperture inside your shoes can be well over 100 degrees. Hot temperatures coupled with sweat provide an ideal environment for fungal and bacterial pathogens. Keeping your feet as cool and dry as possible can help prevent fungal infections like athlete's foot (tinea pedis).

• Read more about foot problems related to excess moisture in shoes, plus strategies for keeping your feet dry: Sweaty Feet and Odor.
• Keeping your feet dry can also reduce the chance of developing blisters. See more tips on keeping blisters away and what to do if one develops: Blister Treatment and Prevention.

A bunion, known medically as hallux valgus, is a very common foot problem that's often a source of recurring pain. Even when a bunion is not acutely painful, it can make wearing shoes uncomfortable when the bump on the side of the foot presses against the shoe. The bump is the result of changes to the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, one of the five joints that flex and extend the toes. A bunion usually occurs at the first MTP, also known as the big toe joint. A bunionette, or tailor's bunion, occurs at the 5th MTP joint on the little-toe side of the foot.

The discomfort caused by a bunion can be managed with non-surgical treatments, but these methods won't correct the actual bunion. Bone and soft tissue changes, including a change in position of the metatarsal bone and resulting joint damage, can all occur with a bunion. When conservative treatment methods fail, many bunion sufferers consider surgical correction...Read more

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Many of us have experienced the ache of a sprained ankle or the searing pain of a stubbed or broken toe. Aside from acute injuries such as these, some of the most common painful conditions that affect the foot and ankle include...Read More

Spring time outdoor activities and sports bring an increase in lower leg, foot, and ankle injuries.  If you are recovering from a sprain, tendonitis, or plantar fasciitis, your doctor may have recommended stretching of the affected area after a few days of rest. Gentle, non-weight bearing stretching or range of motion exercises help to maintain or increase healthy range of motion of a joint and can also help to ease pain.

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To see an image gallery of stretches that target the lower leg, foot, and ankle: Foot and Ankle Stretches

More on Common Foot Sports Injuries:

• Tendonitis
• Heel Pain/Plantar Fasciitis
• Injury of the Big Toe Joint
• Ankle Sprain