Final answer:
Common peroneal nerve injury risk factors include repetitive impact sports, ankle sprains from activities like running and gymnastics, excess body weight, and a family history of osteoarthritis. Wearing high heels that place abnormal pressure on the foot can also lead to issues indirectly affecting the nerve.
Step-by-step explanation:
The risk factors for common peroneal nerve injury include activities that involve repetitive impacts on the feet, such as running, tennis, basketball, and gymnastics. Such sports can increase the risk of stress fractures and exacerbate nerve injury. Moreover, activities that result in ankle sprains or joint injuries can also stretch or tear the ligaments, potentially leading to nerve damage. In particular, an inversion ankle sprain may force the talus bone to tilt laterally, injuring the lateral ankle ligaments and in severe cases, fracturing the distal fibula. Both scenarios may jeopardize the peroneal nerve.
Excess body weight can put undue stress on the joints and contribute to the likelihood of nerve injury. People with family history of osteoarthritis (OA) may also have a higher risk of developing joint-related nerve issues. It is important to consider these risk factors alongside any genetic predisposition or underlying conditions that may affect nerve integrity.
It's not just excessive exercise that can lead to injury; lifestyle choices such as wearing high heels can also be a factor, as this footwear can push the foot into an abnormal position and exert excessive pressure on the front of the foot, leading to conditions like metatarsalgia that may indirectly affect the peroneal nerve by altering the normal foot biomechanics and weight distribution.