Foot and ankle issues bring many athletes to their healthcare professionals each year. Many of them complain about pain, swelling, stiffness, instability, and other deformities. The causes of pain in the foot or ankle may differ; however, common causes are extra stress, overuse, and repetitive movements of the ankles or feet. Moreover, awkwardly landing from jumping, twisting, and falling on the outstretched foot can also cause serious foot and ankle injuries. This article is a detailed account of common foot or ankle injuries. We have also discussed the possible treatment plans for these injuries as suggested by professional healthcare advisors.
Common Ankle or Feet Injuries
The following are the most common foot and ankle injuries that athletes may face during or after their sessions:
- Lateral ligament injury
Literal ligament injury usually occurs when you roll your ankles inwards. Misstepping or tackling can cause ankles to roll inwards. However, if your foot is plantar-flexed at the time of impact, it makes your injury worst. An abrupt change in direction can also cause ligament injury. The injury may be mild or a complete rupture, depending upon the severity of the sprain. Pain is the basic symptom associated with ankle lateral ligament injury. However, depending upon the damage, you may also feel swelling, bruising, instability, and a limited range of motion.
- Osteochondral lesions
The osteochondral lesion usually occurs due to an injury to the ankle joints. It mostly occurs when the knee is badly twisted, or an ankle is sprained. People who play sports like football, soccer, golf, and rugby may be at a higher risk of osteochondral lesions. The injury usually refers to damage to the cartilage and bones in the ankles. The symptoms of the disease may vary depending upon the severity of the damage. However, people usually feel pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, and instability.
- Ankle impingement
An ankle impingement occurs when either bony or soft tissues are compressed within the ankle joint resulting from an extreme end of ankle motion. For example, pointing the foot sharply downward, twisting movements, and falling on an outstretched foot are the main causes of ankle impingement. People involved in football, soccer, running, gymnastics and dancing are at a higher risk of developing ankle impingement. Pain on the front and outside of the ankle is the primary symptom of ankle impingement. However, other symptoms may include decreased range of motion, ankle instability, and tenderness. You should stop all athletic activities whenever you feel such symptoms and consult your GP to diagnose the problem. Based on the diagnoses, your healthcare providers suggest suitable treatment plans.
- Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is the soreness and irritation of the plantar fascia – a tissue band connecting the heel bone to the toe base. This tissue band supports the foot arch and absorbs shock when walking. There are several reasons cause plantar fasciitis. For example, your foot structure, shoe type, walking surface, and overuse are the leading factors contributing to the development of plantar fasciitis. Pain in the heel is the basic symptom of plantar fasciitis. However, other plantar fasciitis symptoms may include swollen heel, tight Achilles tendons, foot instability, or weakness. Several treatment plans, depending upon the condition, are used to deal with plantar fasciitis.
- Ankle/Foot Fracture
Any traumatic condition to the foot or ankle bones can cause an ankle or foot fracture. Several conditions, like over-extending or over-flexing the joints, twisting joints from side to side, and rolling the ankle inward or outward, are the leading causes of the ankle or foot fracture. Several sports can cause ankle or foot fractures. For example, basketball, football, soccer, skiing, tennis, and gymnastics are the leading sports contributing to ankle or foot fractures. The common symptoms of foot fracture are throbbing pain, bruising, inflammation, difficulty walking, and difficulty bearing weight.
Possible treatment plans for ankle or foot injuries
The following are the best treatment plans for foot or ankle injuries:
Non-surgical treatments
Mild to moderate foot or ankle injuries are recovered through non-surgical treatments. The following are the best non-surgical treatments suggested by experts to deal with mild to moderate injuries:
Rest: Whenever you feel pain in the ankle or foot, provide them with enough rest to reduce pain intensity.
Ice massage: Ice massage to the affected areas helps reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Compression: Provide the affected areas with enough compression and support to speed up recovery.
Elevation: Elevating the injured areas helps reduce pain and other discomforts.
Medicines: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce pain, swelling, and other discomforts. However, ensure that you take medication under the prescribed amount by your GP.
Foot or ankle support braces: The ankle or foot braces provide your ankle or foot with enough support to restrict unnecessary movements of the ankle or foot, preventing further injuries. However, wearing the best ankle support braces helps improve blood circulation, speeding up recovery.
Surgical Treatments
You may require surgical treatments when the non-surgical treatments do not respond well to mild to moderate injuries. However, it is a very rare case. Moreover, some severe conditions, such as stress fractures or broken ankles, require surgical treatments to heal properly. The surgical treatment may differ depending upon the injury severity.
How to prevent ankle or foot injuries
Professional sports trainers or healthcare advisors suggest some preventive measures that help reduce the chances of ankle or foot injuries among athletes:
- Warm-up your body before starting your sports session
- Cool down your body when the session is over
- Wear protective gear, such as foot or ankle braces, when necessary
- Learn all sports techniques properly to get a safe playing experience
- Avoid overuse, repetitive movements and falling during sports
Find the best foot or ankle braces
Several sports can cause foot or ankle injuries. The possible given treatment plans will surely help you recover. However, following the given preventive measures enables you to avoid injuries. Wearing the best ankle or foot support braces is the most effective way to prevent injuries. If you are recommended to wear the ankle or foot support braces, we recommend you visit 360 Relief to find the best braces according to your needs.
Author Bio:
This is Aryan, I am a professional SEO Expert & Write for us technology blog and submit a guest post on different platforms- Technoohub provides a good opportunity for content writers to submit guest posts on our website. We frequently highlight and tend to showcase guests
