Sports Injuries Specialist

What are some common sports injuries?

Many sports injuries happen in the feet and ankles, which is why Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute, PC, is the perfect place to seek help when you're hurt. Some common sports injuries include:

Ankle sprains

Ankle sprains, the most common kind of sports injury, are ligament injuries in your inner or outer ankle. Sprains can be mild (ligament stretching but no tears), moderate (partial ligament tear), or severe (complete ligament tear). If you suffer repeated ankle sprains, you're likely to develop chronic ankle instability, in which your ankle often gives out.  

Fractures

Fractures are bone breaks. The most common kind of foot fracture is a toe fracture, but long foot bone (metatarsal) fractures are quite common as well. Stress fractures —tiny cracks from repeated strain — are also very common in the feet and lower legs.

Achilles tendon injuries

Achilles tendon injuries affect the tendon that connects your lower leg muscle to your heel bone. Injuries in this tendon can include tendinitis — inflammation within the tendon — and tendon ruptures or tears. 

There are a number of other sports injuries that can affect the foot and ankle, as well. 

What are the signs of a sports injury?

Sports injury symptoms can vary by location and type of injury, but the most common symptoms are:

• Pain
• Inability to bear weight or walk on your foot
• Poor range-of-motion 
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Skin bruising
• Ankle or foot weakness

If you have these symptoms, stop playing and visit the sports podiatry experts at Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute, PC, right away.

How do you treat sports injuries?

The three treatment goals are to ease your pain, start the healing process, and improve your function. There are many different ways to accomplish these goals, with some non-surgical options, including:

• Immobilization with brace, cast, or splint
• Custom orthotics
• Oral anti-inflammatory medication
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy

If you have a severe sports injury, such as a severe ankle sprain or ankle instability, you might need surgery to restore healthy ligament balance and tension. 

If you need surgery, the highly trained board-certified podiatric physicians at Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute, PC, perform minimally invasive small-incision foot and ankle surgery, such as arthroscopy, whenever possible to minimize your discomfort and downtime. 

How can I prevent foot and ankle sports injuries?

Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute, PC, offers customized recommendations to help you avoid another injury, such as wearing custom orthotics, using the proper footwear for your specific sport, warming up properly, and always using the correct form. 

Seek sports injury help from Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute, PC, by calling the nearest office or booking online today.