Sports injury treatment and massage for injuries, aches and
pains from sport and work
What are the most prevalent foot and ankle injuries?
Ankle sprains.
Sprained ankles are one of the most common injuries in sports. Because the
inner ankle is more stable than the outer ankle, the foot is likely to turn
inward (ankle inversion) from a fall or jump. This stretches or tears
ligaments; the result is an ankle sprain. The lateral ligament on the outer
ankle is most prone to injury.
Achilles tendon injury
The strongest and largest tendon, the Achilles
tendon connects muscles in the lower leg with the heel bone. Sports that
tighten the calf muscles, such as basketball, running and high-jumping can
overstress this tendon and cause a strain (Achilles tendinitis)
or a rupture. A direct blow to the foot, ankle, or calf can also cause it.
Overuse injuries. Excessive training, such as running long distances
without rest, places repeated stress on the foot and ankle. The result can be
stress fractures and muscle/tendon strains.
Shin splints.
Pain in front of the shin bone (tibia) usually is caused by a stress fracture,
called shin splints. Overtraining, poorly fitting athletic
shoes, and a change in running surface from soft to hard puts athletes at risk
for this injury.
What activities make people most susceptible to foot
and ankle injuries?
Athletes who jump
risk ankle sprains because they can accidentally land on the side of their
foot. Extensive running, exercise, or training also can overstress the
ligaments, leading to injury.
What other factors make people susceptible to foot and
ankle injuries?
Improperly fitting
shoes or improper footwear for a particular sport can damage your feet. Fitness
level, height weight ratio, training errors, i.e., running up hills, or running
on bumpy roads, predispose you to serious sprains and strains. If you start a
new sport without proper conditioning, you are at risk.
Cruciate
ligaments
The cruciate ligaments are located inside the knee joint and
connect the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia). They are made of many
strands and function like short ropes that hold the knee joint tightly in place
when the leg is bent or straight. This stability is needed for proper knee
joint movement.
The name, cruciate, derives from the word crux, meaning cross, and
crucial. The cruciate ligaments not only lie inside
the knee joint, they crisscross each other to form an "x". The cruciate ligament located toward the front of the knee is
the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and the one located
toward the rear of the knee is called the posterior cruciate
ligament (PCL).
ACL injuries
The ACL prevents
the shinbone from sliding forwards beneath the thighbone. The ACL can be
injured in several ways:
·
Changing
direction rapidly
·
Slowing
down when running
·
Landing
from a jump
Recognizing an
ACL injury
If you injure your
ACL, you may not feel any pain immediately. However, you might hear a popping
noise and feel your knee give out from under you. Within 2 to 12 hours, the
knee will swell, big time, and you will feel pain when you try to stand. Apply
ice to control swelling and elevate your knee.
If you walk or run
on an injured ACL, you can damage the cushioning cartilage in the knee. For
example, you may plant the foot and turn the body to pivot, only to have the
shinbone stay in place as the thighbone above it moves with the body.
Treatment for any injury
As far as
treatments are concerned they can be uncomfortable and invariably the
joint/injury feels worse the following day even the next day. However within 36
hours you should notice a difference. Ankle injuries and any other joint is unlikely to be back to normal after one session. If you
want to reduce your rehab time, ice it asap
after the injury, rest for 36 hours then seek help. The longer you leave it the
longer you will be out.
First session includes full consultation and assessment
Clinics at Warlingham throughout the week or domiciliary visits
available.
T: 0208 405 3849
M: 07958 978278
E: mattisonp@aol.com