Athletes can suffer sports injuries playing almost anything. Hockey, football, and soccer might come to mind. But, think about all the stress and bending in gymnastics and dance. Quick movements in basketball and tennis can cause foot and ankle injuries, too. When you’ve been hurt, the Virginia foot specialists at Shenandoah Podiatry are here to help you recover quickly. A variety of treatment options are available. Let’s get you back in the game.
Examples of Common Sports Injuries on Your Foot and Ankle
Playing your favorite sport can be a lot of fun. They’re great for your health too. Sports injuries, by contrast, are no one’s idea of fun. Athletes of all skill levels can suffer from common sports injuries, both mild and severe. Children with flat feet may be more prone to some injuries and less prone to others.
Common sports injuries that players may experience include:
- Achilles tendinitis is the inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
- Ankle sprains are when you roll, twist, or turn your ankle, tearing ligaments.
- Heel spurs are calcium deposits under the heel bone, caused by repeated strain.
- Leg cramps result in Sudden pain caused by involuntary contractions.
- Muscle strains are caused by overstretching or tearing of muscle tissue.
- Plantar fasciitis refers to inflamed tissue along the bottom of the foot.
- Shin splints are pain in the lower leg caused by repeated stress.
- Stress fractures are very small cracks in bone, often caused by overuse.
- Tendon tears or ruptures describe damage from a sudden injury or repeated overuse.
- Turf toe is the hyperextension of the ligament beneath your big toe.
Sports injuries can be acute. You might get hurt on the soccer pitch. They can also develop over time. Maybe you’re not giving your feet enough rest between high-impact activities. Or, it can be a combination of both. The important thing is to seek treatment before it gets worse. To play at your best, your feet need to be in top health too.
A Range of Treatment Options For Foot Sports Injury
If you’ve suffered a sports injury in Virginia, Shenandoah Podiatry offers a wide range of possible treatments. What treatment is used depends on the nature of your injury. Your podiatrist will carefully assess your case and plan the best course of action.
Possible treatments include:
- Immobilization. Casts and splints encourage proper healing and repair damage from fractures. They can also reduce muscle swelling and pain.
- Hands-on therapy. Therapeutic massage and adjustments can get your feet and ankles back where they need to be.
- Therapeutic exercises. Your podiatrist may recommend exercises. They can strengthen your muscles or restore flexibility.
- Pain relief. Medication may be prescribed to ease discomfort. Passive therapies like heat, ice, and taping may be offered as well.
- Active rehab. We can work with you to rehabilitate injured muscles and soft tissues, like after a sprain.
- Surgery. At Shenandoah, our experienced Roanoke podiatrists view surgery as a last resort. We treat most sports injuries without surgery.
Advanced Therapies and Technologies in Roanoke
To help you get back in the game faster, we offer a variety of advanced technologies and therapies.
Medical imaging, like digital X-rays and MRIs, assist in diagnosing your injury accurately. With detailed visuals, we can pinpoint the injury’s location. This allows for a more specific treatment plan. Laser therapy can stimulate tissue to repair itself and reduce inflammation. This is very effective with soft tissue injuries. Shockwave therapy is a similar non-invasive option, using sound waves instead of focused light.
How to Prevent Future Foot and Ankle Injuries
In addition to treating the current injury, your podiatrist can help you avoid future injuries.
Custom orthotics can offer better shock absorption and ankle stabilization. Identifying areas of weakness and strengthening them can avoid future injury. As an added benefit, this can improve performance too. A bit more flexibility might be exactly what you need to nail that cross-court winner.
To minimize the risk of injury, you should also:
- Warm up the whole body before playing
- Wear protective gear
- Ease into the season
- Wear properly fitted footwear fitted by a shoe specialist
Call Us Today to Book an Appointment in Roanoke
Sports injuries can happen anywhere from the rink to the court to the field. It’s not just about getting sacked by a 300-pound linebacker. Golf injuries are quite common too. Let us help you get back on your feet without pain. Call us at 540-904-1458 or fill out our online contact form today. Come see us at our convenient Roanoke office and get back in the game. Same-day appointments are available too!