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Foot injuries can have dire effects on your quality of life by making exercise, work, and simple daily activities difficult or impossible. If you have a foot injury, reach out to the podiatric experts at Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists, with offices in Elgin, Schaumburg, Huntley, and the Montclare neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. You’ll get the comprehensive, compassionate care you need to get back on your feet as soon as possible. Call the nearest office or use this website to book your appointment online.
Your feet and ankles are vulnerable to injury. A simple fall, sports mishap, misstep, or car accident can cause acute problems. Foot injuries can also result from overuse and chronic inflammation.
Common foot injuries include:
Any of the 26 bones in your foot can suffer a fracture. Foot fractures need proper care to heal properly so you’re spared long-term pain and dysfunction.
Stress fractures are hairline fractures in the bones of your foot. Usually, stress fractures result from repetitive stress (such as dancing or running) or a rapid increase in your activity’s intensity level.
Ligament tears, tight muscles, ill-fitting shoes, and plantar fasciitis are common causes of arch pain. When the arch of your foot hurts, it can cause gait abnormalities and pain that travels up your kinetic chain into the joints of your knee, hip, or back.
Pain in the ball of the foot may be due to inflammation of the sesamoid bones and surrounding tissue. Sesamoiditis can result from hiking, having foot arthritis, or wearing high heels.
You may associate sprains with the ankle, but your foot can also suffer a sprain — or damage to a ligament. Strains describe stretched or torn muscles or tendons.
A foot injury can occur at any time. You might drop a heavy object on your foot or step off a curb awkwardly.
People who play sports are vulnerable to foot injuries. When you pivot quickly on the field or trip while sprinting down the court, injuries happen. Runners, soccer players, basketball players, and football players are particularly at risk, but no athlete is immune.
Always wear the right shoes and protective gear to protect your feet if you play sports. If you feel pain while practicing or playing a game, rest and seek a consultation from a podiatrist to make sure you don’t push through an injury and cause it to worsen.
Treatment for your foot injury depends on your particular situation. Often, acute injuries benefit from immediate care that includes the RICE protocol — rest, icing, compression, and elevation. You may need physical therapy and bracing to keep your foot from suffering further injury.
Custom orthotic inserts can sometimes correct overuse injuries or those due to improper foot support, such as plantar fasciitis. In the case of complex fractures or a soft tissue rupture, surgery may be required.
If you suffer a foot injury, consult the experienced podiatric team at Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists. Call the nearest location today or use this website to set up your appointment online.