When should I get treatment for sports injuries?

With sports injuries, you get the best results when you seek treatment immediately. If you suffer an injury, contact Foot & Ankle Specialty Clinic to arrange an appointment promptly, and in the meantime start the RICE protocol:

• Rest: Stop moving

• Ice: Apply ice packs 

• Compression: Lightly apply an elastic bandage

• Elevation: Prop your leg above heart level

Your early response to a sports injury can greatly impact long-term healing, so don’t delay care.

What sports injuries affect the foot and ankle?

Sports injuries can happen in virtually any part of the lower leg, foot, or ankle. Some common sports injuries are:

Bruises - Bruises discolor the skin and typically happen as a result of blunt trauma.

Fractures - Fractures are bone breaks that vary from stress fractures to complete breaks that go through the skin. 

Sprains - A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament.

Tendinitis - Tendinitis is painful tendon inflammation. It often occurs in the Achilles tendon to cause severe heel pain.

Ankle Instability - Ankle instability means your outer ankle is weak and prone to rolling. It may develop after playing sports for a long time, particularly on uneven surfaces.

Although not technically an injury, athlete’s foot is a highly uncomfortable infection common among people who participate in sports. It’s a fungal infection that thrives in damp, warm areas that athletes often share, such as showers or locker rooms.

How do you treat sports injuries?

When you get treatment for a sports injury at Foot & Ankle Specialty Clinic, Dr. Martin starts by assessing your injury using a hands-on exam, as well as X-rays and ultrasound where needed. 

Dr. Martin prescribes treatments like immobilization with a splint or other device for conditions like Achilles tendinitis and ankle instability. Additionally, weight-bearing modification is important as it allows your injury time and space to heal. 

If your sports injury causes heel pain, Dr. Martin may prescribe a combination of therapies including stretching, padding, custom-molded orthotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and steroid injections. 

To speed up healing and minimize your pain, Dr. Martin may recommend laser therapy, as well. If your sports injury doesn’t respond to nonsurgical care, he can perform surgical corrections. 

Dr. Martin treats athlete’s foot infections with oral and topical medications that soothe burning, relieve itching, and prevent skin breakdown.

Click the online appointment tool or call either Utah Podiatry, a foot and ankle clinic, location for sports injury help now.