Why Do These Basketball Stars Have Such Bad Feet?

Why These Reactions From the Public?

We probably don’t expect star athletes like Lebron and Shaq to have such severe problems with a part of the body that they rely on in every basketball game. However, it should be obvious that basketball is very hard on the feet. By the time the best players get to the NBA, they’ve played and trained for thousands of hours on hard surfaces. And, all this stress on the feet is magnified by the fact that most NBA players are big, heavy guys.

With such continuous pressure on a player’s feet, toes begin to curl in weird ways, and nails get scrunched up. For many players, the constant pounding and abuse have life-lasting effects, and foot deformities have even ended the careers of some famous players.

If you're experiencing similar foot problems due to sports or intense activity, a sports injuries podiatrist can help diagnose and treat the issue before it worsens—keeping you active and pain-free.

What Are the Most Common Foot Deformity Problems Related to Basketball?

Flat Feet

Many basketball players have flat feet. A more serious condition is known as Acquired Adult Flatfoot Deformity (AAFD) which results from a progressive flattening of the arch brought about by the weakening of the posterior tibial tendon. As the tendon progressively fails, deformity of the foot and ankle may occur.

Bunions

Basketball involves a lot of running and sudden stops, motions which are known to encourage the development of bunions. A bunion can occur on either side of the foot, but the most common site is the big toe. A big toe bunion is a misalignment of the two bones that form the base joint of the toe. The toe begins to angle inward towards the other toes, thrusting the base joint out further in the opposite direction.

Hallux Limitus/Rigidus

This is another deformity of the big toe. The affected joint becomes increasingly limited in motion (hallus limitus). If untreated this loss of motion can continue and bone spurs may develop causing the joint to become rigid (hallus rigidus).

Hammer Toes and Mallet Toes

In these types of deformities, the toes get stuck in a bent position. When in the development stage, hammertoes are known as flexible hammertoes. If left untreated, flexible hammertoes may develop into the more serious rigid hammertoes where the tendons have tightened and the joint had become misaligned and immobile.