Sports Medicine

Podiatric sports medicine plays a vital role in addressing sports-related foot and ankle injuries. In this article, we will discuss the causes of such injuries as well as effective treatment options.

At Bluebonnet Foot and Ankle Institute in Austin, Texas, we can support you through recovery and help improve athletic performance. Whether you’re an athlete striving for peak condition or seeking relief from exercise-related pain, our podiatrists will give you the attention you need. Contact our office today!

Our Services

What is Podiatric Sports Medicine?

Podiatric sports medicine is a specialized field of podiatry that focuses on sports-related injuries. Sports medicine specialists not only help patients recover from injuries, but they also play a key role in enhancing sports performance.

Sports medicine experts often work along with physical therapists to help patients during the recovery process to improve strength and mobility in the foot and ankle.

What Can Cause a Sports Injury?

Many sports injuries are usually caused by poor training methods. This can include an improper warm-up or cool-down, overtraining, or improper form. All these factors can cause injuries to the muscles, ligaments, tendons, or bones in your feet and ankles.

Other factors that can contribute to foot and ankle sports injuries include the following:

Unsafe exercise environments: These can put you at risk of falling, tripping, or rolling your ankle.
Your anatomy: Your body structure can have an influence on injuries, such as having an uneven leg length or flat feet.
Pronation: If your foot rolls inward when walking or running, you increase your risk of injury.
Overuse: Repetitive movements can stress your tendons, ligaments, muscles, and bones

When exercising or participating in sports, you should always listen to your body. You should never work through your pain, as this can lead to a greater injury.

You should also increase loads in exercise gradually. Increasing too quickly can put too much stress on your body and increase the chance of injury.

When exercising, make sure you use proper equipment and use proper technique.

Foot and Ankle Conditions We Treat

At Bluebonnet Foot and Ankle Institute, we treat many different types of foot and ankle injuries. Some of the common injuries we treat include the following:

Achilles tendonitis: Overuse injury that causes inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Often occurs in runners who increase distance too quickly.
Plantar fasciitis: Pain and inflammation caused by tiny tears in the ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot.
Ankle sprain: Stretched or torn ligaments often caused by rolling or turning your ankle
Shin splints: Pain and inflammation on the front of your lower leg often caused by repetitive stress
Stress fractures: Tiny cracks in one or more of the bones in your ankle, foot, or toes, often from overuse or repetitive activity.

When Should I Get Help for a Foot and Ankle Injury?

If you have mild ankle or foot pain, then conservative treatments at home can normally resolve the issue. Home treatments include:

Rest: Keep the weight of your affected foot as much as possible.
Ice: An ice pack can be used for 20 minutes every hour. This will help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
Compression: Using a compression bandage will help reduce swelling.
Elevation: Elevating your affected leg will reduce inflammation in the area.
Pain medication: NSAIDs such as Advil and Motrin can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

If the swelling doesn’t improve after 2 to 5 days or you still have pain several weeks after the injury, schedule an appointment with the podiatrists at Bluebonnet Foot and Ankle Institute.

Treatments for Foot and Ankle Injuries

At Bluebonnet Foot and Ankle Institute, we offer an individualized treatment plan based on the severity of your injury. If you have a moderate-to-severe sports injury, we may provide the following sports medicine treatment:

Orthotics: Custom shoe inserts designed to provide support and reduce the stress placed on your foot and ankle
Steroid injection: This helps to reduce pain and inflammation
Biomechanical correction: Improves alignment and foot mechanics
Bracing or taping: Provides support for injured tissues
MLS Laser Therapy: Effectively treats pain and inflammation
Surgical intervention: Performed in extreme cases to repair damaged tissue or fractures

Why Choose Bluebonnet for Your Foot and Ankle Injuries?

If you’re suffering from persistent foot and ankle pain, look no further than Bluebonnet Foot and Ankle Institute for comprehensive care. Our board-certified podiatrists specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of foot and ankle conditions. From common issues like plantar fasciitis to complex injuries requiring surgical intervention, we’ve got you covered.

We understand that every patient is unique, which is why we offer personalized treatment options tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re seeking conservative therapies like physical therapy and custom orthotics or considering surgical intervention, we’ll work closely with you to develop a plan that aims for optimal outcomes.

Our commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest advances in podiatry ensures that you’ll have access to cutting-edge treatment options.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Get back in the game with Bluebonnet Foot and Ankle Institute! If you’re dealing with a sports or exercise injury, our specialized podiatric sports medicine team in Austin, Texas, is here to help.

From diagnosis to treatment, we’re dedicated to getting you back on your feet and enhancing your sports performance. We also help you learn how to avoid sports injuries. Don’t let your foot or ankle problem sideline you any longer—schedule your appointment today and take the first step towards recovery and peak performance.