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Common Foot Injuries

Pain, swelling and redness are symptoms of a foot injury. You should not ignore these problems, but instead, seek the help of your local podiatrist. At Foot Health Podiatry in Manhattan, NY, Dr. Sorelis Jimenez and Dr. John Fletcher treat patients for a variety of foot and ankleFoot Injury issues, including acute and overuse injuries. You can be back to full health and function with their expert help.

What's the most common foot injury?

It's the ankle sprain, a tearing of one or more of the three ligaments which support the ankle bones and help the ankle move and flex. Sudden twisting motions on uneven surfaces such as grass or an incline cause sprains.

Fortunately, sprains usually are self-limiting, says the American Podiatric Medical Association, and they heal themselves without surgery or casting. However, to be sure you have a mild sprain (which will not worsen or lead to ankle instability), see your Manhattan, NY, podiatrist for an examination, X-ray imaging and treatment plan.

Other foot injuries

Because feet are so complex and constantly used, they are prone to fractures from:

  • Trauma (heavy object dropped on a toe, for instance)
  • Overuse (stress fractures result from running)
  • Structural weakness due to disease processes such as osteoporosis

These fractures may be closed, in which the bone ends remain joined, or open, where the bone ends separate and even pierce the skin. Open fractures may require surgery as do Jones fractures in which bleeding occur with the break.

Besides fractures, your podiatrists see and treat these foot injuries:

  • Plantar fasciitis, an overstretching of the broad band of connective tissue which crosses the foot between the heel and the base of the toes
  • Turf toe, a sprain of the big toe caused by repetitive upward stress or catching of the toe in grass or artificial turf
  • Achilles tendinitis, a painful inflammation of the tendon which connects the calf muscle to the heel (the cause is rapid and intense physical activity)

First aid

Treat the pain and swelling associated with any foot injury immediately with this effective first aid protocol:

  • Rest
  • Ice (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off)
  • Compression (with an elastic bandage)
  • Elevation (at heart level)

Also, to avoid injury, warm up before you exercise, and wear the right shoes for your activity. Proper support is key to keeping your feet and ankles healthy and functional.

Contact us

If you experience a foot injury, call Dr. Jimenez or Dr. Fletcher at Foot Health Podiatry right away for advice and a same-day appointment if necessary. Call us at (212) 845-9991.

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