Sports Injuries

Which sports injuries affect the feet and ankles?

The Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists team treats various sports injuries that affect the feet and ankles, including:

• Achilles tendonitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Plantar fasciitis
• Ankle sprains
• Broken bones (fractures)
• Stress fractures
• Heel spurs
• Turf toe
• Shin splints
• Ligament injuries
• Ankle instability

Sometimes, sports cause wear-and-tear damage. For example, osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage –– a soft tissue that pads your joints –– breaks down, causing your bones to rub against each other.

Who is at risk of suffering sports injuries?

Sports injuries affect active people of all ages, but several factors may increase your risk. For example, these injuries commonly occur in people who play contact sports that involve tackling and collisions. You’re also more likely to suffer a sports injury if you don’t warm up and cool down before and after exercise. 

Wearing the proper safety equipment, listening to your body, and practicing good posture can significantly reduce your risk of sports injuries.

How do foot and ankle specialists diagnose sports injuries?

Your Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists provider reviews your medical records and asks about your injury, including what you were doing when it happened, the symptoms you’re experiencing, and if they’re worse at specific times, like when you first wake up in the morning.

Next, your provider completes a podiatry exam. They check the affected part of your foot or ankle for redness, swelling, and bruising and assess your muscle strength, reflexes, and range of motion. 

Your provider gently presses on the injured area to identify sensitive spots and orders diagnostic imaging, like X-rays or an ultrasound, to check for fractures and soft tissue damage. After identifying the location and severity of your sports injury, your provider makes personalized treatment recommendations.

How are sports injuries treated?

The Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists team uses a conservative, minimally invasive approach to treat sports injuries. They could suggest:

• Immobilization with a walking boot or cast
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce swelling and relieve pain
• Prescription anti-inflammatory medication
• Physical therapy
• Orthotics (prescription shoe inserts)
• Activity changes

The team might recommend surgery if you have a severe sports injury, like a broken bone or a ruptured ligament. Surgery repairs the damage so you can heal and get back on your feet. 

Call the nearest Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists office today to schedule sports injury treatment, or book your visit online.