CME expires January 31, 2029

A practical, evidence-based guide to diagnosing and managing common overuse injuries in active patients.

Overuse injuries of the foot and ankle are among the most frequent and frustrating problems encountered in sports medicine. They can be deceptively complex, with overlapping diagnoses, contributing biomechanical and training factors, and management decisions that must balance recovery with return to activity. Clinicians need guidance that is both current and usable in practice.

Overuse Injuries Playbook: Foot and Ankle is designed to meet that need. Developed for sports medicine physicians, general orthopaedic surgeons, team physicians, physical therapists, physician assistants, and other clinicians who care for athletes and active individuals, this course provides a focused, high-yield review of the most common foot and ankle overuse conditions seen in practice. Built as a practical handbook, it is ideal for clinicians who want meaningful, evidence-based guidance they can absorb quickly and apply immediately.

Each chapter follows the full clinical pathway so learners can move efficiently from presentation to plan. Content covers epidemiology and risk modifiers, pathophysiology and biomechanics, focused history and examination, imaging indications, and management strategies ranging from patient education and load governance to exercise progression, selective adjuncts, and procedures when indicated. Chapters also address return-to-play decision-making with objective criteria where appropriate, along with population-specific considerations such as pediatric and adolescent athletes and sex-specific factors when relevant.

Each chapter is paired with a detailed infographic, a downloadable Clinical Job Aid, and a brief case-based quiz to reinforce essential concepts. Together, these tools make the course easy to review, easy to apply, and highly practical for busy clinicians. Whether used as a rapid clinical refresher or a structured review of common conditions, Overuse Injuries Playbook: Foot and Ankle is designed to help clinicians make more confident decisions, streamline evaluation, and deliver better-informed care for active patients with foot and ankle overuse injuries.

Included Topics

• Achilles Tendinopathy
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever Disease)
• Peroneal Tendinopathy
• Posterior Tibial Tendinopathy
• Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Editor

Megan Paulus

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the clinical presentation of common foot and ankle overuse injuries in athletes and active patients.
• Distinguish among overlapping diagnoses using focused history, examination, and imaging when indicated.
• Apply practical, evidence-based management strategies, including activity modification, load governance, rehabilitation principles, and selective procedural options.
• Identify when symptoms, exam findings, or imaging patterns suggest a higher-risk condition requiring closer protection, additional workup, or referral.
• Use return-to-play criteria more confidently and communicate clear progression benchmarks to patients, families, coaches, and care teams.
• Account for population-specific variables that may influence diagnosis, treatment tolerance, and recovery timelines.

Earn up to 6 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits™.