Our feet are made up of numerous bones, tendons, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles that allow us to move, support, and balance. Each foot has 26 bones, accounting for more than a quarter of the bones in our bodies. These joints, bones, and muscles support our body weight and allow us to move, making them vulnerable to injury.
Injuries to the feet and ankles are common, especially among athletes, players, and fitness enthusiasts. These injuries range from minor ones with minor pain, such as sprained ankles, to severe ones with broken bones. Some foot injuries can be treated at home with ice, over-the-counter medicines, and bandages. Others, on the other hand, need to be seen by a doctor and possibly have surgery.
While foot injuries are common among athletes and the elderly, they can also occur as a result of minor accidents such as slipping and falling, tripping on stairs, or engaging in high-impact activities. If you have a foot injury, you can take the following steps.
Pain, bruises, and swelling or inflammation are all symptoms of injuries such as fractures and sprains. The symptoms vary depending on the injury and severity, and they aid in determining the type of injury. By looking for symptoms, you can figure out what kind of injury it is and how bad it is and then take the right steps.
Whether your injury is minor or severe, performing first aid on your injured foot is critical. First aid aids in the relief of pain and the reduction of symptoms such as swelling. The following are examples of first aid for a sprained foot:
1. Use of ice. Applying ice to the affected area of your foot reduces inflammation and relieves pain. For the first two days after the injury, apply ice to the injured area for thirty minutes.
2. Heat application. Like ice, heat lessens pain and inflammation. The area that is injured has to be heated.
3. To relieve pressure on the injury, place the affected foot on a raised surface, such as a pillow.
4. Clean the bruises. If you have a bruise or wound, carefully clean and disinfect it with clean water.
Using over-the-counter medications can help relieve pain after an injury.
If you are in too much pain or have severe foot or ankle injuries, seek examination and treatment at a generalized orthopedic surgical residency. If you can’t stand or walk and have an infected wound, you may also need treatment for your injury.
Stress fractures are small cracks in the foot bones that cause tenderness and pain in the injured area. They are most common on the bones of the lower foot, such as the metatarsals and tibia.
These lower leg bones bear our weight and are susceptible to stress fractures. This foot injury occurs when exhausted muscles stop absorbing stress and instead transfer it to the lower bones, resulting in forefoot fractures. Stress fractures happen when you work out too much and don’t get enough vitamin D and calcium.
Stress fractures can be treated surgically or non-surgically. Nonsurgical treatment entails plenty of rest and the use of braces and shoe inserts to aid recovery. Surgical treatments are used when the affected bones are too weak or, in the case of broken bones, by orthopedic surgeons.
When the talus fractures, it results in a broken ankle. The talus is an ankle bone that connects the leg and foot and allows for ankle movement. As a result, a fractured or broken bone in the ankle impairs movement and the ability to support the weight. Bruising, swelling, tenderness, and severe pain are all symptoms of a broken ankle.
If the ankle is broken suddenly, orthopedic surgery and physical therapy are recommended. Ankle injuries range from stable and displaced to open fractures and necessitate a variety of treatment options. A thorough checkup by an orthopedic surgeon will help figure out what the best next step is.
Achilles tendonitis is an injury-induced inflammation of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon connects the heel bone to the calf muscle at the back of the leg. It is the longest tendon in the body and absorbs stress when you move, especially when you run or jump.
This foot problem is caused by excessive stress on the Achilles tendon, a rapid increase in intensity during a workout, or inactivity. It causes stiffness and severe pain in the back of the leg, as well as bone spurs and tendon swelling. Achilles tendinitis can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, calf stretching exercises, or surgery.
Closed and open-toe fractures, as well as stress and non-displaced-toe fractures, are among the most painful foot problems. A closed-toe fracture involves broken bones but no broken skin, whereas an open-toe fracture involves both broken skin and broken bones. Furthermore, pain in the center of the leg could indicate a broken foot.
Bruising, inflammation, pain, and difficulty walking are all signs of a broken toe. Reduction, over-the-counter medication, and surgery are all options for treating broken toes.
We treat all foot problems and ankle emergencies at Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute to help you relieve pain and walk comfortably. We are a Saratoga Springs orthopedic clinic with well-trained orthopedic surgeons and staff. Among our services are:
We provide ankle fracture and diagnosis treatment, chronic ankle instability treatment, and sprained ankle treatment as part of this service. Also, we have all the tools we need to treat any ankle injury and an emergency room for serious ankle injuries.
For many years, our skilled orthopedic surgeons in Saratoga Springs, UT, have helped patients suffering from arthritis pain. Because of this, people with arthritis pain can live a life that is easier and less painful.
We offer wound care, gait problems, and plantar wart removal in the comfort of your own home.
At Rogers Foot and Ankle Institute, we offer some of the best foot care in Saratoga Springs. Broken foot and toe treatment, bunion pain relief, heel spur treatment, flat feet and hammer toe treatment, and diabetic foot pain are all part of our foot care services.
Do you need treatment for your foot or ankle injuries? Visit or contact us today for all your foot injury treatments.