If you play tennis, you know that to be competitive, you need to be flexible and strong with lots of endurance. You also know that every part of your body is engaged while you are on the court. Legs, arms, elbows, knees, wrists, feet and ankles are hard at work, and at risk of being injured. Perhaps you have suffered an injury while playing tennis. You may have overly stretched the outer ligaments in one of your ankles. This is known as an ankle sprain, and is actually a very common tennis injury. Constantly stopping and changing direction during a tennis match can cause your toes to jam up against the front of your shoes. This is especially true if the shoe’s toe box is not roomy enough, or your toenails are too long. This type of injury, known as tennis toe, causes blood to collect underneath one or more toenail, making it turn black or red. A chiropodist can make professional suggestions regarding proper footwear and offer other preventative tips to help reduce your chances of further injury while playing tennis.
Injuries to the foot and ankle are very common among athletes. If you have experienced an injury, please consult with one of the chiropodists from Complete Family Footcare & Therapy. Our clinicians 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 offices located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
