Sports injuries to the foot and ankle can be very painful and keep you from participating in the activities that you love. Fortunately, many of these injuries can be treated and you can return to your regular activities quickly.
Most sports injuries can be managed at home with rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE). However, serious injuries should be assessed by an expert.
Physical Therapy
The feet and ankles are a complicated group of structures with more than two dozen bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Because they work so hard to support your weight and allow you to move, any injury to the foot or ankle can significantly limit your lifestyle. The pain of a foot injury can prevent you from walking, hiking, running, and participating in most sports. This limits your independence and can cause you to burden those around you.
Physical therapy is one of the best ways to treat many foot and ankle injuries. It can help relieve pain, increase mobility and strength, and improve gait mechanics and balance. Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care and patient education.
Your physical therapist may use techniques such as ice, electrical stimulation, and massage to decrease swelling and inflammation of your injured area. They will also create a custom program for you to follow at home to reduce pain and speed your recovery.
The type of physical therapy you receive depends on the severity of your sports injury. A physical therapist can guide you through the recovery process so that you can return to your favorite activities as soon as possible without further injury. For example, if you have an Achilles tendon tear, your therapist will create an exercise program that slowly ramps up intensity. This decreases the risk of re-injury and increases the likelihood that you can avoid surgery.
MLS Laser Therapy
MLS laser therapy stimulates the body’s natural healing process without heating tissues. This reduces inflammation and pain from foot and ankle injuries. It also decreases edema, which is the buildup of fluid in soft tissue. Using a combination of low and high-intensity laser light, our podiatrists can alleviate a variety of injuries, including Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and neuropathy. Often, patients who have been scheduled for surgery are able to postpone or cancel their procedure after receiving a series of MLS laser treatments.
Unlike earlier Class IV laser devices, the MLS (Multiwave Lock System) laser therapy emits specific wavelengths of light that have been shown to produce strong anti-inflammatory and anti-edema effects. These effects occur because the laser energy creates photons that painlessly penetrate into cells accelerating your body’s cellular repair processes. This allows tendons, ligaments and muscles to heal up to 30% faster so you can return to your normal activities.
During the treatment, you may feel a slight warming sensation in the treated area. The laser does not cause burning or pain, and it takes less than 10 minutes per session. Your specialized foot and ankle specialist will determine how many sessions are necessary, with most patients requiring six to twelve sessions of this non-invasive therapy. During your appointment, our staff will help you select the right MLS laser treatment for your needs and answer any questions you might have.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
PRP is a natural blood treatment that uses your own platelets to promote healing in injured tissue. Platelets contain proteins that help your blood clot and support cell growth, so isolating the plasma and concentrating it allows your doctor to inject it into damaged tissue, helping it heal faster.
A small sample of your blood is drawn and placed in a special device called a centrifuge, which spins it at high speeds to separate the platelets from the other cells. The concentrated platelets are then mixed with an anticoagulant to prevent clotting, and then injected into the injured site.
Research studies have shown that PRP injections significantly enhance the body’s ability to repair tendons and other soft tissue injuries. This includes chronic tendon conditions like Achilles tendonitis and tennis elbow, as well as rotator cuff tears and knee ligament problems.
The treatment is painless and does not require sedation or other medications. However, the procedure can take 30 to 60 minutes. After the injection, you will need to rest for two days and avoid washing the area of the injury. Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions regarding aftercare and the number of injections that will be needed for your particular condition.
Shockwave Therapy
EPAT or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a non-surgical treatment for many tendon injuries. It uses a handheld probe to deliver high-energy acoustic sound waves into the foot that stimulate the healing process, increase blood flow, break down scar tissue, and dissolve calcified deposits. This procedure can help treat a wide range of conditions, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and tennis elbow. During the procedure, patients can expect mild discomfort but it is easily tolerable. Treatments usually last 4-5 minutes and can be performed multiple times per week over 3-6 weeks, depending on the results.
Injuries are an unavoidable part of any sport, and they can be devastating for professional athletes. A single injury can end a career, costing the player money, time, and prestige. That’s why most sports teams are always on the lookout for the best treatment options.
One such treatment that’s been embraced by several professional sports teams is shockwave therapy. It uses a handheld device to deliver acoustic sound waves into the injured area, stimulating the healing process and increasing blood flow to reduce inflammation. It also breaks down and dissolves calcified tissues, which can be the source of pain. It’s a great alternative to surgery and can be used for both chronic and acute injuries. It’s especially useful for in-season athletes, who often need to recover quickly and return to competition.
