The Foot, ankle & lower leg injuries

SECTA Sports Medicine The Foot, ankle & lower leginjuries

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Ankle sprains: • The most common injury • Mostly due to excessive inversion and plantar flexion • Most commonly injured ligament is the anterior talofibular ligament • Less common is the eversion sprain due to the deltoid ligament

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Ankle Sprains • 1st degree: • 1 or more of the supporting ligaments are stretched • S/S: minor discomfort, point tenderness, little or no swelling, no abnormal joint movement • TX: RICE, splinting, taping, bracing, eliminate all activities that cause pain • Rehab: ROM exercises, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Ankle Sprains • 2nd degree: • Portion of 1 or more ligaments is torn • S/S: pain, point tenderness, swelling, disability loss of function, slight abnormal movement • TX: RICE, splinting, taping, bracing, eliminate all activities that cause pain • Rehab: ROM exercises, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Ankle Sprains • 3rd degree: • 1 or more of the ligaments have been completely torn • S/S: extreme pain (unless nerve damage has occurred), loss of function, point tenderness, rapid swelling, chance of fracture • TX: RICE, splinting, taping, bracing, eliminate all activities that cause pain, consult a physician • Rehab: ROM exercises, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, possible surgery

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle Inversion ankle sprain Inversion ankle sprain

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Arch Sprain • Most involve the metatarsal or inner longitudinal arch • Reduces the ability of the arches to absorb shock • Caused by overuse, overweight, fatigue, training on hard surfaces, wearing nonsupportive or worn shoes • TX: RICE

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Great Toe Sprain (Turf Toe) • Big toe hyperextends (first metatarsophalangeal joint) often due to slippery surfaces • Minor injury but does limit athletes’ performance • TX: RICE, support, often x-rays to rule out more severe injury

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Plantar Fasciitis • Plantar fascia becomes strained due to overuse, toe running, unsupportive footwear, running on hard surfaces • S/S: Pain near heel (similar signs as heel bruise) • TX: RICE, stretching, heel cushion

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Retrocalcaneal Bursitis • Caused by constant rubbing from the heel of the shoe leading to chronic inflammation of the bursa • S/S: tenderness, swelling, warmth and redness • TX: Doughnut pad place around the area

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Bunion • The head of the 1st metatarsal enlarges due to wearing improperly fitting shoes • S/S: Obvious deformity, tenderness, and swelling • TX: Proper shoe selection, protection devices, possible surgery

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle Bunion

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • PesPlanus • Over pronation of the foot caused by the lack of support in shoes, genetics, or age • S/S: foot pain, lack of longitudinal arch, lateral heel tilt • TX: arch stretches, toes curls, ice massage, orthotics

Common Injuries of the Foot & AnklePesPlanus

Common Injuries of the Foot & Ankle • Ingrown Toenail • Caused by improper shoe size and nail cutting • S/S: increased pain, swelling, redness around the nail bed • TX: hot, soapy water, antibiotics, raise nail up

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg • Muscle Cramp: • A sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscle • Contributing factors: • Fatigue • Fractures (due to atrophy) • Dehydration • Lack of nutrients in diet (sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium) • Poor flexibility • Improperly fitted equipment • TX: passive stretching, fluid replacement, massage, rest, ice

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg • Contusions • Most commonly occur over the shin due to a blunt force trauma • Complication of a severe contusion may lead to Compartment Syndrome or peroneal nerve damage • TX: ice

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg • Achilles Tendonitis • Caused by repetitive weight bearing activities that increase quicker than the body can adapt • S/S: pain and stiffness around the Achilles tendon- gradual onset • TX: limit/restrict the activity that caused the irritation, aggressive stretching

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg • Achilles Tendon Rupture • Caused by a sudden eccentric force is applied to a dorsiflexed foot with a chronically tight tendon • S/S: feel/hear a pop, feels as if kicked in the leg, inability to plantar flex foot • TX: Surgery vs. cast

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower LegAchilles Tendon Rupture

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg • Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome • Shin Splints • Caused by changes of any kind in training, abnormal strength in antagonist muscle • S/S: anterior medial shin pain • TX: eliminate bad changes, modified rest, cryotherapy, arch tape job

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg • Stress Fracture • Caused by repeated stress place on a bone that is greater than the body’s ability to adapt or heal • S/S: point tender at fracture site, pain relief in the morning • TX: rest

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower LegStressFractures

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg • Fractures • Caused by direct blow, twisting force, repetitive use (stress fractures) • 10-15% of lower-leg fractures are open fractures • Tibial fractures are more easily recognized than fibula fractures

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower LegFractures Closed Fracture Tibial x-ray

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower LegFractures

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg • Dislocation • Caused by • S/S: • TX:

Common Injuries of the Foot, Ankle & Lower LegDislocation

The Foot, ankle & lower leg injuries