Items filtered by date: February 2022
Common Sports Injuries Affecting the Feet and Ankles
Athletes can be at an increased risk for sustaining injuries to their feet and ankles. Many football players sustain an injury called turf toe, in which the plantar ligament and metatarsophalangeal joint of the toe are disrupted. This can cause joint instability, pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty bearing weight and pushing off of the toe. Ankle sprains are extremely common among athletes and typically occur when the athlete “rolls” the ankle. This is caused by an overstretching or tearing of the ligaments that hold the ankle bones together. Ankle sprains vary in severity from mild to severe and can cause pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion in the affected ankle. Stress fractures are another common athletic injury, especially in runners. These occur when a small crack develops in a bone due to overuse. Symptoms often include pain, swelling, and aching at the site of injury. Left untreated, the stress fracture can progress to a full fracture or heal slowly. If you have sustained a foot or ankle injury while playing a sport, a chiropodist can help treat your injury and get you back on your feet.
Injuries to the foot and ankle are very common among athletes. If you have experienced an injury, please consult with one of the specialists from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
Common Injuries Among Athletes:
Achilles tendon injuries
Ankle strains or sprains
Plantar fasciitis
Fractures
Turf toe
Joint dislocations
Sever’s disease
Morton’s neuroma
Symptoms
Symptoms will depend on the cause and severity of the injury. Common symptoms for a foot or ankle injury include pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, a reduced range of motion, and difficulty bearing weight or walking on the affected foot or ankle.
Diagnosis
Sports injuries are typically diagnosed after carefully examining the affected foot or ankle. This includes moving the injured area to test its range of motion. Medical history will need to be provided, as well as detailed information about how the injury occurred. Imaging studies, such as X-rays or MRIs, may be used to confirm or rule out certain diagnoses.
Treatment
Just like symptoms, treatment will depend on the type of injury and its severity. Initial treatment for many sports injuries is aimed at controlling inflammation and promoting the healing response. The acronym R.I.C.E is a helpful guide to implement for most acute injuries. This method involves resting, icing, compressing, and elevating the affected foot or ankle. In addition, anti-inflammatory medications may be administered and orthotic devices may be prescribed. For more severe injuries, surgery may be required. Lastly, rehabilitation or physical therapy may be needed to gain full functionality in the afflicted area.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more about Sports Related Foot and Ankle InjuriesDo You Suffer From Painful Feet?
Osteoarthritis in the Feet
Arthritis is a medical condition that causes the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints. This can lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty moving the affected joints. Osteoarthritis, which is associated with aging, is the most common type of arthritis and often affects the joints of the feet and ankles. Because of the pain and discomfort caused by osteoarthritis and the effect that it can have on mobility, it is important to seek treatment. Common treatments for arthritis include oral medications to reduce pain and inflammation, wearing orthotics in the shoes to cushion the feet and minimize pain, bracing or immobilizing affected joints, steroid injections directly into the affected joints to reduce inflammation, and physical therapy. If you believe you may have osteoarthritis in the feet, a chiropodist can help you manage this condition.
Osteoarthritis in the feet or ankles can be a painful and disabling condition that may interfere with your daily activities. If you have arthritis, please consult with one of the specialists from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the protective layer of cartilage in the joints breaks down over time. This loss of cartilage causes the bones to rub together during movement, leading to pain and inflammation. Osteoarthritis is associated with aging, and often affects the small joints of the feet and ankles.
Symptoms
Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
Joint pain
Joint stiffness
Swelling in or around the joint
Restricted range of motion
Difficulty walking
Diagnosis
Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed through physical examination. You may also need to have an X-ray taken to assess the extent of the damage caused by arthritis.
Treatment
Treatment for osteoarthritis focuses on reducing symptoms and improving the function of the affected joints. Conservative treatments include oral pain medications, orthotic devices, bracing or immobilizing the affected foot or ankle, steroid injections into the affected joint to reduce inflammation, and physical therapy. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs
Read more about Arthritic Foot CareWhat Is Peripheral Artery Disease?
Peripheral artery disease, also known as PAD, is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to your arms and legs narrow and harden due to a buildup of fatty deposits. This causes a reduction of blood flow, most commonly in the legs. If the blocked blood flow is severe enough it could lead to tissue death, which could ultimately lead to foot or leg amputation. Some symptoms of PAD may include pain, numbness, or heaviness in the legs especially when walking or standing, weak or absent pulses in the legs or feet, poorly healing sores or wounds on the feet, skin discoloration, a lower temperature in one leg, poor nail growth on the toes, and decreased hair growth on the legs. However, people who have PAD often do not show any symptoms, and the condition becomes apparent only through physical examination and imaging studies. Contributing risk factors for PAD can include smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and a diet that is high in fats or cholesterol. For more information about PAD and its effects on the health of your lower limbs, please speak with a local chiropodist.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a serious condition that can increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. If you have symptoms of PAD, please consult with one of the specialists from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
What Is Peripheral Artery Disease?
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the lower limbs narrow and harden due to a buildup of arterial plaque. PAD causes a reduction in blood flow to the legs and other extremities.
Symptoms
Often, people with PAD experience no symptoms, especially in the early stages. If PAD continues to worsen, the first sign of PAD may be claudication, pain and cramping in the legs while walking, caused by the reduction of blood supply to the muscles of the legs.
Other potential symptoms include:
Numbness or weakness in the legs
Coldness in the legs or feet
Slow-healing sores or wounds
Skin discoloration or hair loss on the legs
Slow growth of toenails
Diagnosis
Most often chiropodists utilize a test called an ankle-brachial index (ABI). An ABI test compares blood pressure in your arm to the blood pressure in your ankle to see if any abnormality occurs. Vascular tests look at the blood flow in the legs and are generally painless and non-invasive.
Treatment
Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help limit further arterial plaque buildup. Taking your prescribed medications can reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack. In some cases, surgery may be required to improve blood flow.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more about Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)Understanding Stress Fractures in the Feet
Stress fractures, or hairline fractures as they are sometimes called, are small cracks that develop in a bone when it is unable to handle the weight placed on it. Because the feet bear the weight of the entire body and are also heavily involved in our mobility, stress fractures frequently occur in the foot bones. Stress fractures are often caused by overuse or doing repetitive activities that place stress on the foot, such as running or dancing. Symptoms of a stress fracture include tenderness, deep and dull pain, weakness, swelling, and bruising. Without treatment, stress fractures can worsen over time. If you are experiencing the symptoms of a stress fracture, it is recommended that you seek treatment from a chiropodist.
A stress fracture often requires medical attention as it can progress and worsen over time. Please consult with one of the specialists from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
A stress fracture refers to a fine crack in a bone. This type of fracture is especially common in the feet, as they often endure repetitive pressure from daily activities such as walking or running. Stress fractures occur when the affected bone can not support the load being placed on it. Stress fractures in the foot can occur in any bone, but often affect the metatarsal bones which connect the toes to the rest of the foot, the heel bone, or the navicular bone on the top of the foot.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a stress fracture may include:
Deep, dull pain
Sharp, localized pain
Intermittent pain
Tenderness
Weakness
Swelling
Bruising
Changes in the biomechanics of the foot
Diagnosis
Stress fractures in the foot are diagnosed via medical history and a physical exam. You may also need to have diagnostic imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, bone scans, or an ultrasound performed to confirm the diagnosis and to rule out any other problems.
Treatment
Nonsurgical treatment options include resting, icing, compressing and elevating the affected foot, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications, modifying your footwear, wearing a cast, and using crutches. Certain types of foot fractures, such as navicular fractures, respond poorly to nonsurgical treatment and may need surgery to fully heal.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
Read more about Stress Fractures