Sports Injuries

Most sports involve a lot of leg and foot action, so it’s a surprise no one that foot and ankle doctors see so many sports injuries. At Specialized Foot and Ankle Care, experienced podiatrists Ankur Bahri, DPM, and Sandeep Sandhu, DPM, and their team understand that you want to get back to doing what you love. With a wide array of treatments available in the Carteret, Perth Amboy, and Edison, New Jersey, offices, your sports injury doesn’t have to keep you down for long. Call the office nearest you today or use the online booking feature to make your appointment.

How do sports injuries happen?

Sports injuries happen in a few main ways:

Overuse

Overuse injuries happen when training or playing too long or too intensely. This kind of sports injury usually develops slowly.

Sudden injuries 

Sudden injuries can occur during falls, landings from jumps, or twisting at an unusual angle. They can also happen when running into another person or being hit by an object.

Which sports injuries affect the feet and ankles?

From the well-known ones to some that might surprise you, many sports injuries occur in the feet and ankles. These include:

• Ankle sprains: excessive stretching or tearing of ankle ligaments
• Chronic ankle instability: repeated sprains, leading to a weak ankle
• Fractures: broken bones due to stress or trauma
• Tendinitis: tendon inflammation, for example, Achilles tendinitis
• Tendinosis: tendinitis that progresses, causing tendon breakdown
• Plantar fasciitis: inflammation of the connective tissue along the bottom of the foot
• Neuromas: nerve tissue thickening between the third and fourth toes

Although not precisely sports injuries, athletes have a higher risk of foot fungus, nail fungus, and ingrown toenails.

How do podiatrists treat sports injuries?

As highly trained foot and ankle doctors, the podiatrists at Specialized Foot and Ankle Care provide complete care for sports injuries. The team starts with a diagnosis. This includes a comprehensive exam of your injured foot and ankle, including sensation and range-of-motion tests.

Most sports injuries require X-rays, ultrasounds, or other imaging. This reveals elements hidden from the naked eye and helps confirm your diagnosis. You might also need nerve and muscle testing. Diagnostic mini ankle arthroscopy is available in the office too.

The team treats sports injuries case by case. Your type of injury, symptoms, age, budget, and personal goals contribute to the treatment discussion. The team could recommend:

• Activity changes until you heal fully
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Bracing or splinting
• Custom-crafted foot orthotics
• Shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for tendon injuries
• Cortisone injections

The team can also treat other problems that athletes encounter, including laser treatment to eliminate toenail fungus.

Nonsurgical care is always the priority. However, experienced foot and ankle surgeons can perform corrective surgeries using either minimally invasive or traditional open techniques if necessary.

At Specialized Foot & Ankle Care, Dr. Sandhu or Dr. Bahari treat patients for bunions, diabetic foot care, athlete foot, sports injuries, heel pain, and more. We are a foot and ankle specialist practice located in New Jersey. Call us to book your appointment today.