Sports Medicine

What is sports medicine?

Specially trained podiatrists at the Center for Podiatric Medicine use sports medicine to help patients prevent or recover from sports-related injuries. Doctors work with athletes of all ages, including dancers with major ballet companies in the area. Common sports-related injuries include:

• Plantar fasciitis/heel pain
• Tendonitis and other tendon injuries
• Stress fractures
• Sprains and strains
• Joint pain
• Toe turf
• Overuse injuries
• Blisters, calluses, and bunions
• Sesamoiditis
• Metatarsalgia
• Neuromas
• Hammertoe

Your podiatrist specializes in treating and preventing sports injuries related to your feet and ankles. Dancers, football players, basketball players, distance runners, and several other athletes are at risk of sports-related foot and ankle injuries.

How are sports injuries diagnosed?

To find out which type of sports injury you have, your podiatrist goes over your medical history and completes a thorough examination. They may run diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, ultrasound or MRIs, to make a diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment.

What are sports medicine treatments?

Your podiatrist lets you know which sports medicine treatment best matches your needs based on the type of injury you have. They may recommend:

• Rest, ice, compression, and elevation
• Custom orthotics to correct biomechanical foot abnormalities
• Braces or kinesio taping to minimize joint movement
• Physical therapy
• Strengthening and stretching exercises
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Electrical stimulation
• PRP or amniotic membrane injections
• EPAT shockwave therapy for soft tissue and bone injuries
• PinPointe™ laser for fungal toenails

In severe cases, your podiatrist may recommend surgery to treat a sports injury so it heals properly. Less-invasive treatments, such as EPAT shockwave therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and stem cell injections may be all it takes for your body to heal itself naturally.

The team at the Center for Podiatric Medicine always recommends the most conservative option first. Many athletes choose minimally invasive sports medicine procedures over surgery whenever possible to reduce downtime and get back into the game sooner.

How can I prevent sports injuries?

The best ways to prevent sports injuries include:

• Wearing proper footwear
• Avoiding overtraining
• Getting proper rest
• Eating a healthy diet
• Staying hydrated
• Warming up before training and events
• Stretching properly

Even when taking the proper precautions, sports injuries can still occur. If you have a foot or ankle sports-related injury that isn’t healing, book an appointment by phone or online with the Center for Podiatric Medicine to determine which sports medicine treatment is right for you.