Fort Mill schools are back in session, and you know what that means: Aside from groggy mornings and soon-to-be chillier temperatures, fall sports also move from preseason conditioning into high gear.

At SmartStep Foot and Ankle, we’re big fans of Friday Night Lights and weekend tournaments, but we’re also fans of keeping your feet and ankles healthy and happy. Unfortunately, this time of year is one of our busiest as new athletic activities ramp up and muscles and tendons get a jolt of reality after a summer of lounging.

Out for the Season Before It Even Begins

Pivot movement, sprints, lateral cuts and other impactful activities can leave some student athletes facing pain and even disability. Whether you’re playing at The Complex at Fort Mill, on your school team or just a friendly game of pickup in the neighborhood, our team recommends getting checked out by your podiatrist at the first sign of pain.

In fact, many parents and coaches notice their athletes complaining of a recurring pain along the outer ankle bone during this time of year. This sensation can often be coupled with a clicking during direction changes or a persistent feeling that the ankle is weak.

In some cases, these are minor symptoms that don’t require anything more than rest and proper warm-ups before practice or gametime. After all, it’s easy to want to jump right into the season when you’ve been away for the summer.

But that can be a big part of the problem. Many student athletes push themselves too hard, especially when the season first starts up. Couple that with feeling like they need to push through the pain to not let the team down, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Anatomy of the Lateral Ankle: The Peroneal Retinaculum

Running down the outside of your lower leg and looping directly behind the outer ankle bone (the lateral malleolus) are two primary tendons. The medical terms for these are the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis.

Together, these tendons act as the primary dynamic stabilizers of your foot. In addition to stability, these tendons help to keep your ankle from rolling outward and allow you to push off forcefully when changing directions.

At the heart of this is the superior peroneal retinaculum. While that sounds like a mouthful, this band of tissue holds the tendons securely in a bony groove.

When someone twists an ankle or exerts sudden lateral force on the field, this retaining band can stretch, tear, or pull away from the bone. The resulting stress may lead to clinical problems, including:

Tendon Subluxation

Without a secure retaining band, the peroneal tendons actually slip out of their natural groove and snap over the ankle bone during cutting movements. Athletes often feel a popping or clicking sensation accompanied by sharp pain when this happens.

Subtalar Joint Strain

When the peroneal tendons become unstable, the ankle and foot may have to compensate during movement. Over time, repeated stress can contribute to inflammation and instability in the surrounding joints.

Treating peroneal instability requires more than just basic icing and an elastic bandage. While those treatments may provide temporary relief, they fail to address the core issue: there is damage to the structural retaining band, and this is what leaves athletes vulnerable to ankle instability and other long-term complications.

What a Typical Patient Journey Looks Like

For many active individuals and youth athletes in Fort Mill, dealing with an ankle injury often starts with a minor twist and turns into a lingering problem.

A common scenario we see in high school athletes across York County: a 16-year-old soccer player twists her outer ankle during an early September match. After taking four days off to rest and let the initial swelling go down, she feels ready to get back on the field.

But as soon as she tries to make a sharp lateral cut or pass the ball, something feels wrong. She experiences an uncomfortable snapping behind her outer ankle bone, and this is often accompanied by a sudden wave of weakness.

Terrified of rolling her ankle again, she starts subconsciously shifting her weight while running. Within a week, she’s also developing secondary pain in her opposite knee from compensating. This is common not only in sports but in the general population we see in Fort Mill.

Our Protocol for Relief

When a patient walks into SmartStep Foot and Ankle with a story like this, Dr. Lanier takes a personal interest in the patient. Although we see many of the same injuries time and again at SmartStep Foot and Ankle, we recognize that your case is unique.

To get a thorough evaluation of what’s happening, we begin with a clinical evaluation and dynamic imaging. Our technology allows us to view tendons in motion, and this is how we can see the peroneal tendon slipping out of its natural groove.

Afterward, we begin developing a personalized recovery plan. We base treatment on your goals and lifestyle, and we want to keep you active and engaged while you heal.

For lateral tendon instability, a plan may require stabilizing the ankle in a specialized dynamic brace. We may also use targeted ultrasound-guided anti-inflammatory therapy to calm surrounding swelling. For some patients, we craft custom athletic orthotics to prevent abnormal joint rotation.

Back on the Field Faster

Because we take a conservative-first approach, we look for ways to help you recover without surgery whenever possible. Depending on the severity of the injury and how you respond to treatment, this may allow you to return to your sport sooner. If surgery is ultimately necessary, Dr. Lanier offers minimally invasive surgical options and will work with you to develop a treatment plan that supports a safe return to activity.

Dedicated Sports Medicine in Fort Mill, SC

Whether you’re supporting a student athlete navigating a competitive season or an active adult logging autumn miles across York, Lancaster, or Mecklenburg Counties, persistent outer ankle pain or clicking should never be ignored. Remember: catching tendon instability early may help to prevent permanent ligament laxity and has the potential to keep athletes on the field.

Opening October 2026: SmartStep Foot & Ankle in Fort Mill, SC

SmartStep Foot and Ankle is proud to announce that our brand-new physical medical office in Fort Mill, SC is officially opening in October 2026!

Located right in the heart of Fort Mill, SC, our state-of-the-art practice brings elite, specialized podiatric medicine and sports injury management directly to local families across Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Rock Hill, Lancaster, South Charlotte, and Indian Land.

Our new clinic features:

• Advanced In-Office Imaging: Diagnostic digital imaging and real-time motion/gait analysis for immediate, accurate diagnoses.
• Seamless Online Scheduling: Powered by Tebra, our streamlined patient portal allows you to view real-time appointment availability, complete digital check-ins, and message your care team.
• In-Network Care: We accept major health insurance plans, ensuring high-tier specialist care is accessible for your entire family.

Is Outer Ankle Pain Holding Your Athlete Back?

Don’t let unaddressed tendon instability turn into a season-ending injury. Our team is ready to help restore stability and performance. Schedule your visit with Dr. Lanier today at SmartStep Foot and Ankle!