4 Reasons To See A Sports Medicine Podiatrist
Sports and injuries often go together. Injuries to the feet and ankles are common, and without treatment, long-term problems can arise. You should take a trip to see a podiatrist for injuries to your feet or ankles. Your doctor can help with pain relief and treatment, but for an injury that needs more, you need the specialist.
Strains
Strains are common, and in a lot of situations, you can treat them at home. A strain is a tearing of the connective tissue that attached the tendons and muscle to the bone. A severe strain may result in a complete separation of the tissue, requiring surgery to repair the tear. Minor strains can occur from something as simple as stretching to slide into a base and will typically heal without a lot of intervention. Repeated strains of the same tissue can become a bigger problem over time so see the doctor if you have ongoing issues with an ankle or foot strain.
Stress Fractures
Stress fractures occur in bones that are repeatedly exposed to impacts with an object. Micro cracks will appear in the bone and cause pain when you put pressure on it. Stress fractures are common in runners. The repeated impact of their feet on the ground can produce fractures in the mid bones of the feet. The best prevention for stress fractures high-quality running shoes that absorb the shock of the foot hitting the hard ground. The only real treatment for stress fractures is to take a break from the activity. In some cases, you may have to stop running for six weeks to 2 months.
Plantar Fasciitis
While not everyone considers this a sports injury, plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the thick tendon that runs from the heal of the foot to just behind the toes. The tendon can become inflamed from overuse and will cause pain around the heal of the foot. The pain is most notable when putting pressure on the heal. The treatment involves resting your feet and medication for inflammation. Depending on the severity of the condition, the podiatrist may recommend crutches to help you stay off the injured foot.
Shin Splints
Shin splints are best described as pain in the lower legs, typically more to the inside of the legs than the front. The injury commonly occurs when you increase your activity level. Runners pushing for more distance, cycles working harder to go faster, or other similar activity. The condition is best treated with long rest periods to allow the muscles to recover.
Visit a website like http://www.elmhurstpodiatry.com for more information.
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