Chopart Injuries in Football: The lesser-known ankle injury
Football (AFL, Soccer or Rugby) are a demanding sports that puts tremendous stress on the feet and ankles. While most people are familiar with ankle sprains and fractures, there’s a lesser known but significant injury that can sideline players for months: the Chopart injury. Understanding this injury can help players, coaches, and parents recognise when immediate medical
attention is needed.
What is a Chopart Injury?
The Chopart joint, also known as the midtarsal joint, is in the middle part of your foot. It’s made up of two separate joints that work together:
- The joint between the navicular and talus bones
- The joint between the cuboid and calcaneus bones
Think of the Chopart joint as a crucial hinge that allows your foot to adapt to uneven surfaces and helps transfer power from your leg to your toes when running, cutting, or kicking. When this area is injured, it can significantly impact a player’s ability to perform at their best.
Chopart injuries can range from simple sprains to complete dislocations, with or without associated fractures. In football, these injuries are particularly concerning because they often involve high-energy trauma and can be easily
missed during initial evaluation.
How Do Chopart Injuries Happen in Football?
Football players are at risk for Chopart injuries due to several common scenarios:
Planting and Cutting Movements When a player plants their foot to change direction quickly, excessive force can be transmitted through the midfoot. If the foot is fixed on the ground while the body rotates forcefully, the Chopart
joint can be overwhelmed.
Tackle-Related Trauma Direct impact to the foot or ankle during tackles can cause the midfoot bones to separate or fracture. This is especially common when a player’s foot is trapped under another player.
Awkward Landings Jumping for headers or making defensive plays can result in awkward landings where the foot hits the ground at an unusual angle, forcing the Chopart joint beyond its normal range of motion.
Hyperextension Injuries When the foot is forced into extreme upward bending (dorsiflexion), the ligaments supporting the Chopart joint can tear or the bones can fracture.
Recognising the Signs and Symptoms
Chopart injuries can be tricky to diagnose because symptoms may initially seem similar to a simple ankle sprain. However, there are key differences to watch for:
Immediate symptoms
- Severe pain in the middle of the foot
- Inability to bear weight on the affected foot
- Visible swelling across the top of the foot
- Bruising that may extend from the midfoot to the toes
- An obvious deformity of the foot shape
Ongoing Symptoms
- Persistent pain that doesn’t improve with rest
- Difficulty walking even after initial swelling subsides
- Numbness or tingling in the toes
- Changes in foot shape or arch height
When to Visit Life Performance Health
- You cannot bear weight after 24-48 hours
- Pain persists despite rest and ice
- Foot shape appears different
- Numbness or tingling develops