Some of the most common injuries seen at sports medicine clinics include abrasions, tendon ruptures, ankle sprains, blisters, muscle soreness, plantar fasciitis (pain in the heel), shin splints, stress fractures, back problems, tendonitis, and so on. The foot is the most commonly injured part of the athlete’s body followed closely by the knee.
A Podiatrist is specially trained on this important part of the human body. If you have sustained these types of injuries you know how invaluable these specialist doctors are. You may have also seen a podiatrist if you had sport related back injuries. Why? Back problems are often caused by problems related to the foot.
If you have a foot injury (often incurred when trying to get fit) where do you go? Initially a Podiatrist will diagnose the problem and refer you on to particular specialists depending on the type and severity of your injury. Once the problem has been identifies corrective procedures can begin. Treatments may include one or more of the following procedures. Let's talk a little about each one.
Pharmacotherapy
This is simply as it sounds – most minor injuries can be treated and corrected with prescribed medications to reduce swelling, pain and discomfort – combined with rest this can often solve the problem.
Physical therapy this involves the adjustment of the joints and corresponding muscles and tendons to compensate for areas that have become weakened due to the nature of the injury. This should be administered carefully by a professional and can involve various stretching and specific exercises. This may well include hot and cold applications and in some cases electrical stimulation of the muscles.
Orthotics Where really specialized treatment is called for the introduction of Orthotics may be required - these involve custom made inserts for footwear. If all these fail then surgery may well be the last solution. Regardless of the method or the injury, it's best to visit your local podiatrist right away instead of trying to remedy the problem yourself.
