SPORTS INJURY
There are several important pillars for maintaining a healthy body, including eating a nutritionally-sound diet, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of sleep every night. Another key pillar is staying physically active. There are many ways to be active, which also means there is the possibility of getting hurt. As with any sporting activity, it’s very important to be aware of the safety precautions needed to help avoid injury and reduce risk. With that being said, injuries of the foot and ankle are fairly common among those who actively participate in sports. One of the practice areas in which Rainier Foot & Ankle excels is caring for sports-related injuries.
Sports that require tightly worn shoes and have a particular focus on jumping typically run a higher risk of injury. Because the feet are considered the foundation of the body, help us stay balanced, and enable us to perform our everyday activities, professional help should be sought at the first sign that something is wrong.
We want you to lead a healthy lifestyle while taking the right steps to be safe while doing so. If sports injuries do occur, RFAA is here to provide the care you need.
What is Causing My Pain?
The lower limbs provide a solid foundation and enable movement of your body. During normal daily activity, you take about 5,000 steps (give or take) in an average day. With every step you take, you place one and one-half times your body’s weight on the foot taking the step, showing that your feet endure a tremendous force load.
When you add high-impact activities (running, jumping) to the equation, it shouldn’t be surprising that a variety of sports injuries occur that need the attention of a podiatrist.
Some common contributors that lead to foot and ankle injuries in the realm of sports include not stretching properly or failing to warm up, wearing the incorrect footwear needed for your particular sport, as well as not taping or providing your feet and ankle with the needed support. There are a number of foot conditions that can develop if certain safety measures are ignored. Some of the most common conditions related to sports injuries include Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures, to name a few.
Some of the more common sports-related conditions include:
- Achilles tendinitis: The Achilles tendon is strong—the strongest tendon in the body. But it is still subject to injury, including the ‘overuse injury’ referred to as Achilles tendinitis. When the Achilles tendon is not stressed (inactive), but then is called to action where it faces excessive forces, it can become inflamed and cause pain.
- Plantar fasciitis: In this injury, the plantar fascia—a connective tissue that bridges the heel and forefoot along the bottom of the foot—becomes tight or even torn due to excessive force. The body begins repairing the fascia during periods of rest (especially overnight sleep), but the next steps taken will reopen the tears, which is intensely painful. This injury is the most common source of heel pain for adults.
- Turf toe: Sports fans recognize this term and don’t want to hear it associated with their favorite team’s players, but you might not know what it actually is. Essentially, turf toe is a sprain in the big toe’s main joint (the metatarsophalangeal joint) and is quite painful.
- Sever’s disease. This condition isn’t necessarily caused by sports activities, nor is it technically a “disease,” but athletic activity can definitely aggravate it. Sever’s is the most common cause of heel pain for adolescents and basically develops in response to the heel bone reaching physical maturity before the Achilles tendon. It does not cause long-term issues and treatment is centered on managing symptoms.
- Stress Fractures: Stress fractures can arise due to a lack of conditioning, use of improper equipment or technique, and repetitive stress placed on the foot and ankle. A stress fracture is a small crack in the bone that can be very painful and cause a great deal of discomfort.
Find Relief at Rainier Foot & Ankle Associates!
Sports Injury Treatment and Prevention
When an injury does occur, Rainier Foot & Ankle is ready to provide effective treatment and get you back in the game safely and in the shortest amount of time possible.
You may be pleased to know that the majority of foot and ankle injuries sustained during athletic activity are treated successfully without the need for surgery. There are times when a surgical procedure may be needed, but more conservative options can be quite effective when treating sports-related symptoms.
- RICE – Rest, ice, compression, and elevation can be the best first response to a sports-related condition. RICE gives the body time to heal, reduces pain, and relieves inflammation.
- Medications – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used. Our podiatrists will provide specific recommendations and dosages to keep you (or your loved one) safe.
- Orthotic devices – These are customized to work with your feet and either control motion or provide additional cushioning and support. Rainier Foot & Ankle can recommend both over-the-counter as well as custom orthotic options.
We are able to treat your sports-related conditions, but we are also here to help you avoid an issue in the first place. Some preventative measures you should practice before engaging in any type of physical activity include wearing the proper footwear for the activity and being careful to warm up and stretch both before and after athletic or workout activities.
Sports Injury Treatment at Rainier Foot & Ankle
Our goal is always to repair, optimize, and strengthen, so you’re performing better than ever before. We want to get you back to doing what you love.
If you commonly participate in sporting activities and would like more information about how to keep your feet and ankles safe, as well as learn more about your treatment options if injured, we recommend you speak with our podiatrist, Dr. Bock for professional guidance and care.