Sports Injuries Specialist

What sports injuries occur in the feet and ankles?

Because your lower extremities sustain so much pressure when you're playing sports, injuries are relatively common. Some injuries that the West Suburban Podiatry team treats include: 

Fractures

Fractures can occur in any bone within your feet or ankles. The most common foot fractures occur in the metatarsals, the long bones in your midfoot, and the most common ankle fractures involve the tibia or fibula bones. A bone fracture can range from a small crack (a stress fracture) to a displaced fracture with misaligned bones. 

Sprains

Sprains occur when you overstretch or tear the ligaments in your foot or ankle. Lateral ankle sprains, which affect the outer ankle, are quite common, but a sprain can happen in any ligament.

Strains

Strains occur when you pull or tear a muscle or tendon in your foot or ankle. They can happen anywhere in the foot and are quite common around the ankle.

Achilles tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is painful tendon inflammation at the back of your lower leg. You can also develop peroneal tendonitis or posterior tibial tendinitis in the feet. 

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis affects the long ligament on the bottom of your foot. With repeated stress, for example, long-distance running, the ligament develops small tears that lead to painful heel inflammation. Plantar fasciitis often occurs with heel spurs.

Foot and ankle injuries are serious, and that’s why you should see a foot and ankle expert at West Suburban Podiatry for an optimal recovery. 

How are sports injuries treated?

Your podiatrist typically starts with a careful assessment and diagnosis, followed by a full explanation of your treatment choices. The doctors often recommend:

• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Brace, splint, or other devices to immobilize your injury during healing
• Physical therapy to boost your strength, flexibility, and range-of-motion
• MLS laser therapy to accelerate your body's natural healing powers
• Corticosteroid injections to stop inflammation

Your podiatrist may also recommend custom orthotics to protect your injury and improve your foot function as you recover. 

In some cases, sports injuries require surgery. The board-certified podiatrists offer all types of foot and ankle surgery for injuries that don’t respond to non-surgical modalities.

What should I do when I get hurt playing sports?

If you're hurt or think you could be, don't hesitate: 

• Get off your feet immediately
• Elevate your foot and apply an ice pack to help numb any discomfort or pain
• Call West Suburban Podiatry to get help 

The friendly team attends to sports injuries on a priority basis.

For Chicagoland sports injury care, call the specialists at West Suburban Podiatry, or schedule online.