Parkour/Freerunning is a sport which involves gymnastic-like, fluid movement through the urban environment, movements of this sport are characteristic of things seen in the Matrix or Spiderman. The sport is fairly new and remains somewhat of an underground community, however you may have seen some of it in commercials such as several nike commercials which featured freerunners being chased around a city by a chicken Another commercial featuring parkour came from the car company Scion which featured two freerunners chasing two scion cars around.

The reason I am posting about this is because I myself practice parkour and am suffering from foot trouble because of it. Certain elements of parkour involve roof jumping and massive drops. If done incorrectly these can obviosly be dangerous.

The pain I have been suffering is in my left achilles tendon or left ankle. Because of the tendon pain I have suspected achilles tendonitis, however I have had similar trouble prior to this in the ankle itself and not the tendon. The trouble started when I jumped wrong on a trampoline and landed very hard on the arch of my foot on the bar surrounding the tramopline.
Since then that foot has been prone to injury and I am seeking advice on what I may have done to my foot/ if their is any risk of permanant injury (I really hope not

Any advice or imformation you have would be greatly appreciated

For more information on parkour go to UrbanFreeflow.com

Dear Dan
It would be hard to give you an accurate diagnosis without a physical examination. Previous injury to an ankle, especially soft tissue can be sometimes more damaging than an actual break in the bone. The ligament of the ankle are also suseptible to reinjury with a history of trauma. You need a thorough lower extrmity exam and an ankle xray to exam the bony alignment.

Good-luck and thankyou for contacting foot.com
SBarlizo, DPM, C Ped
foot.com expert