Common Injuries to the Foot and Ankle . How do we define injury? -medical condition resulting from athletic activity that causes a limitation or restriction on participation and must seek medical treatment from a health care professional
Acute vs. Chronic
Acute- injury occurring from a specific movement or task with pain and disability occurring immediately after Ex: ACL teat from cutting and pivoting in a basketball game
Chronic- injury occurs from a nonspecific movement or task with pain and disability y occurring slowly over time
Tissue Healing Phase -acute inflammation (up to first 72 hours/weeks) > swelling , pain, redness -acute stages -Repair. Proliferation (72 hours to weeks) >
-remodeling (2 weeks to months)
Signs of inflammation -the inflammatory process is a natural and necessary one -will indicate an acute injury or the presence of infection -indicators are
-pain: increased chemical activity -heat: increased metabolic activity -swelling: chemical and vascular changes; fluid leaking into cellular spaces -redness: increased blood flow
Mechanism of Injury -how and injury occurs
Caused by mechanical forces -tissues absorb force Shear -tissues are pulled in opposite directions in relation to one another : Tension -tissues are pulled in opposite directions Understanding the MOI is essential information in the injury evaluation process and is helpful to the athletic trainer for referral and treatment plans
Foot and Ankle -The foot and ankle accepts all of your body weight during walking -In jumping and running tasks, twice the amount of force is exerted upon the foot and ankle
MOI Inversion mechanism -lateral ankle ligament sprains -fractures (medial malleolus)
Eversion -medial ankle ligament sprains - fractures (lateral malleous)
Avulsion Fractures; a piece of bone is pulled off with a ligament -peroneal tendon at base of 5th metatarsal
Sprains Ankle sprains are the most common injury to occur in sport-related activity
Inversion sprains - In combination with plantar flexion -Damage to anterior talofibular ligament -potential to damage calcaneofibular and posterior talofibular ligaments
Eversion Sprains -less common -damage to deltoid ligament on medial ankle
High ankle sprains/ syndesmotic - Rotation forces
Severity scale -Grade 1 - slight stretch of fibers -Grade 2- tearing f fibers but still intact - Grade 3: complete rupture of ligament fibers
Signs and symptoms -swelling, pain, imitation in function
Care -PRICE (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
Jones Fracture Base of 5th metatarsal -MOI: stepping off a curb -signs and symptoms: pain and point tenderness -poor blood supply, may have extended healing period
Stress Fractures of the Foot -Frequent injuries among athletes who participate in impact loading activities (i.e, cross country, track)
-Most commonly to the navicular or metatarsals - March Fracture -stress fracture to the second metatarsal -Signs/symptoms : -pain with activity tat does not change when warmed up -pain may increase upon completion, be uncomfortable at night and will be located in a specific spot (point tender) Common Cau