Depending on the sport, your feet and ankles can certainly take a beating from repetitive play. Whether an athlete is a recreational, competitive or elite, foot and ankle health is essential for optimal performance. Athletes are susceptible to overuse injuries, including heel pain (plantar fasciitis), Achilles tendonitis, sesamoiditis, stress fractures, posterior tibial tendonitis (or PTTD) and calcaneal apophysitis in children and adolescents.