Foot Injuries in Sports Medicine

A foot sprain is one of the most common injuries of athletes since they use their feet a lot. This occurs if there is a tear in the ligaments – tough bands of fibrous tissue which connects the bones to each other in a joint.

In this paper I will be researching ACL injuries in sports. Along with what causes these injuries to happen, how they can be prevent and if the footwear we use as athletes can make these injuries more or less likely to happen to us. I will also be looking closely into the reoccurring ACL injury in which Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls has been suffering from for the past few years.

The ankle joint is the most commonly injured part of the body for individuals who participate in competitive activities, accounting for approximately 30% of all sports related injuries (Boyas, Hajj, & Bilodeau, 2013; Hootman, Dick, & Agel, 2007; Waterman, Owens, Davey, Zacchilli, & Belmont, 2010). It was estimated that in the United States alone, there are around 25,000 ankle sprains suffered each day(Olmsted, Vela, Denegar, & Hertel, 2004). A systematic review has analyzed articles published between 1977 and 2005 in 70 sports, and demonstrated that the ankle was the

Direct injuries result to crushing of the foot such as someone landing on his foot from a fall, heavy objects falling to a foot and foot being ran over by a car.

The knee is a hinge joint which gives the legs mobility. The muscles and ligaments of this joint allows flexion and extension of the leg. “Because the knee supports the majority of the body weight, it is at risk of overuse and traumatic injuries” (France). The knee is composed of 3 major bones; the femur, tibia, and the fibula. The femur is the biggest bone in the human body, the inferior end flares out into two rounded landmarks called femoral condyles. Their name comes from the side of the body they are on, which is where we get Lateral Femoral Condyle and Media Femoral Condyle. Superiorly to these condlyes are the medial and lateral femoral epicondyles. The bones inferior to the femur are the Tibia and Fibula. The superior end of the Tibia flares out into slightly concave structures called the Tibial Plateaus. A crescent wedge shape of cartilage sits in each plateau. These are the Medial Meniscus and the Lateral Meniscus. This cartilage acts as a shock absorber and distributes forces. “The menisci are bathed by the synovial fluid of the knee” (France). The meniscus is what separates the each side of the Tibia and Femur and the transverse ligament connects each menisci. There is a circular bone on the

This condition is common in athletes who forcefully and repeatedly bend their foot downward (plantar flexion) or push off their foot forcefully.

Foot injuries such as Plantar Fasciitis basically take place in only one foot. There are very few incidences where this injury took place in both the foot. In cases where it happened, the prime reason for that happened to be the result of a serious systematic arthritic condition that is now exceptionally quire rare among the athletes. Among both the sexes, it is the male who suffer from greater incidences of this injury. It is because they are heavier than their female counterparts, are less flexible and due to greater momentum, energy and ground impact.

Soccer like other popular sports has a risk of injury for the athletes participating. As a part of the sports medicine team it is crucial to be able to treat these injuries effectively and ultimately have the athlete returning to play as soon as possible. Injuries to the lower extremities are the most common in soccer. These injuries may be traumatic, such as a kick to the leg or a twist to the knee, or result from overuse of a muscle, tendon, or bone (1). This information will be helpful when assessing an injury. The three steps of injury assessment are, determine the type and extent of the injury, locate signs and symptoms, and finally compare bilaterally to notice any deformities (2). Our injury assessment is aided by the popular acronym H.O.P.S. Which stands for history, observation, palpation, and special tests. History is crucial for diagnosing an injury and would usually be found out by asking questions such as, “what happened?”, “Has it happened before?”. Asking this can locate any repetitive motions or actions that have been causing this injury. Observation is looking for signs, which are observable deformities such as a rash, swelling, or dislocation. Next is palpation, which is touching to look for pain or unusual textures on the skin. Finally, special tests, these are used to rule in/rule out injuries based on specific joint tests.

If you play different sports or enjoy being active, you may suffer with one or more injuries, but professionals in orthopedic sports medicine can offer you preventative solutions. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, so you may become part of the 25,000 Americans who suffer with an ankle sprain each day. Using this guide, you will learn how to care for your sprained ankle to prevent further damage that can become more serious.

Whether you walk or play football you have likely had an injury. Sprains and strains are common sports injuries and with new technology they are just as easy to treat.

Of the many skills incorporated in the study of Biomechanics, there is one that is the center focus to most individuals. This skill that I am referring to is known as running. This skill is where I will be focusing my attention as I express the intricate methods that correspond to running. Running is known as a natural form of human locomotion and continues to be a popular participating sport, however many develop various gait related injuries due to it. It is common for many to see running as a simple activity. However, running is a complex sport that requires attention and technique with the lower extremities such as your legs, hips, knees and ankles. Throughout this paper I will be discussing and evaluating the alternative explanations that correspond with gait related injuries. For my self personally, among many other reasons I enjoy running because on days where I am stressed from school, work or just personal events it is a way for me to escape the daily pressures of life and enjoy some fresh air while relieve some steam. Running takes work and requires some training, however it is one of the best methods on relieving stress and staying motivated. It is a great way to get exercise and you can do it anytime, anywhere without any equipment. Although running is tedious and can be exhausting it is a great way to better ones self and to help stay in shape.

Walking and engaging in sports are good forms of exercise.Your body acquires tons of benefits just by strolling or playing outdoor games for five to ten minutes. However, every mile you take and every hop you make puts pressure on your feet. Your feet is considered the strongest part of your body as it carry your weigh. But too much friction irritates the sensitive tissues of your heel and you begin to develop heel pain.

Background: A 19 year old, collegiate offensive lineman was injured during an in season football game. The athlete felt pain in his right knee and ankle during the game and initially was able to return to play. Later on, he was unable to participate due to the ankle pain. The following day he was diagnosed with a syndesmosis ankle sprain and was administered two stem cell injections in the anterior syndesmosis. Following the stem cell injection, he had no acute distress and no peripheral edema. He did have difficulty getting on his toes and was point tender around the anterior syndesmosis. Stress X-rays showed no openings, but the MRI showed complete disruption of the anterior syndesmotic ligament. Differential Diagnosis: Lateral ankle sprain, contusion, fracture. Treatment: No anti

The feet are the foundation of the body. Often, people don’t even realize how much they use and rely on them. Nevertheless, if foot problems occur, the value of keeping feet healthy and happy is undoubtedly becomes an understatement. One’s daily life, health, and the level of participation in enjoyable activities, can all be greatly impacted by problems of the feet.

What is orthopedics? Orthopedics is a specialty that focuses on injuries and diseases of your body’s musculoskeletal system which consists of the bones, joints, ligaments, and other parts of the body. An orthopedic surgeon treats injuries that have to deal with the musculoskeletal system and sometimes will perform surgeries to correct these problems. Orthoinfo.aaos.org gives an overview of what orthopedic surgeons deal with. This involves diagnosing a problem, treatment of the problem, rehab and prevention of the disease. According to Dr. Jack Rozbruch from CFNC.org, he said, ¨The competition for orthopedic residency programs is significant now as these have been the most desirable of all residencies over the last decade”.