Ankle injuries are prevalent, especially among athletes who run, jump, and rapidly change direction while in motion. If you have an ankle injury, make an appointment at Sports Medicine Oregon in Tigard and Wilsonville, Oregon. The orthopedic specialists offer expert diagnosis and personalized treatment plans to help you recover and get back to your regular activities quickly and safely. Call Sports Medicine Oregon or schedule a consultation online today for patient-focused orthopedic care.
Anyone can injure their ankles, whether you’re sprinting across the soccer pitch and need to suddenly change direction or slip off a curb as you walk to school or work. Some of the most common ankle injuries include:
Sprains are the most common ankle injuries. Every day, around 25,000 Americans sprain their ankles. Sprains occur when a ligament — the connective tissue that connects the bones in a joint — overstretch and tear.
Ankle sprains range in severity from a mild overstretch to a complete tear of connective tissue. Your symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and stiffness, which intensify with the severity of your sprain.
Ankle fractures are also common injuries. You can fracture any of the three bones in the ankle joint, including your tibia, fibula, and talus, as well as the subtalar joint consisting of the talus and calcaneus.
In addition to acute ankle fractures from forceful twists or impacts, you can also develop stress fractures in your ankle bones from repetitive use.
Your Achilles tendon is the thick band of tissue that connects your calf to your ankle and foot. It’s critical to your ability to flex and point your foot and walk.
Achilles tendinitis develops from repetitive strain. It’s a common injury among runners, dancers, and other athletes.
Achilles tendinitis can also increase your risk of acute injuries such as a torn or ruptured Achilles tendon.
You should make an appointment immediately if you have an acute, traumatic ankle injury. Getting rapid treatment is critical to a quick and effective recovery.
You might want to try to treat mild ankle pain at home with rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, you should seek expert care if your ankle pain persists or gets worse.
The Sports Medicine Oregon team reviews your symptoms and injury details before completing a thorough physical exam of your ankle. Then, they palpate your ankle and gently manipulate the joint, feeling for deformity or inflammation.
If necessary, your provider can order additional tests such as arthroscopy, X-rays, and MRIs to collect more information about the inside of your ankle and the extent of your injury.
Your personalized treatment plan for an ankle injury may include:
The team often combines therapies to maximize your pain relief while accelerating your recovery. They also offer return-to-play guidelines to help you avoid future injuries by returning to training too quickly.
Call Sports Medicine Oregon today or make an appointment online for expert diagnosis and treatment for ankle injuries.
