What are sports injuries?
Sports injuries are the musculoskeletal injuries you incur when training for or participating in sporting activities.
Involvement in sports and the training that goes into keeping yourself fit to play are excellent ways to keep yourself healthy and manage life's stresses. The benefits of doing more exercise far outweigh the downside of injury, but there's no denying that if you play sports, injuries are a risk.
What sports injuries affect the lower leg and foot?
Sports injuries that can affect the lower leg and foot include:
Strains
These are muscle or tendon injuries caused by overstretching. Common strain injuries in sports are calf muscle strains, ankle strains, and ankle tendinitis.
Sprains
Sprains are similar to strains but affect the ligaments rather than the tendons. Ligaments attach bones to other bones, whereas tendons attach muscles to bones. Sprained ankles are one of the most prevalent types of sports injuries. You could also sprain your foot or toes.
Fractures and dislocations
Falls, collisions, and other forms of trauma can result in fractures (broken bones) and dislocations. Ankle dislocation usually happens at the same time as a fracture, causing a complex injury.
Overuse injuries
Overuse or repetitive strain injuries take time to develop, causing a gradual increase in discomfort rather than the immediate pain of an acute injury.
Overuse causes tiny tears in the soft tissue fibers. These tears multiply over time until the damage becomes a chronic problem. Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis are common examples of overuse injuries.
Overstretched tissues can sometimes rupture or tear completely. There could also be extensive soft tissue injuries if you suffer a fracture or dislocation. Injuries like ankle sprains and fractures can lead to ankle instability, where you feel like your ankle isn’t supporting you properly.
What treatments are there for sports injuries?
Initially, Dr. McConn uses conservative approaches to treat most sports injuries. Your treatment plan could include:
- Strapping
- Physical therapy
- Custom orthotics
- Splints
- Ankle braces
- Orthopedic boots
- Anti-inflammatory medication
Some sports injuries might benefit from steroid injections. Dr. McConn also uses regenerative medicine techniques to promote faster and better tissue healing.
Would I need surgery for a sports injury?
If your injury is too severe to treat using conservative approaches or you aren't improving after following conservative treatments, you might need surgery.
Dr. McConn uses minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to repair damaged tendons and ligaments. If you have ankle instability, Dr. McConn is an expert in the ArthroBrostrom® repair technique, which he also performs arthroscopically. This technique allows for earlier weight-bearing, decreased swelling, and earlier return to sports.
Using these methods, you should recover from sports injuries like sprained ankles and return to playing much more quickly.
Call Tim McConn, DPM, to find out more about the available sports injury treatments, or book your appointment online today.
