Sports Injury

If you’ve been injured playing sports and need treatment to relieve pain and ensure proper healing, see the experts at Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons located throughout Nebraska. The outstanding podiatrists offer sports injury treatments to help you get back on your feet. Call the office nearest you to schedule an appointment, or request one online today.

What is a sports injury?

A sports injury is any injury you sustain playing or training for sports activities. Foot and ankle injuries are common among athletes, especially those who play contact sports, participate in intense resistance or endurance training, and those with a history of sports injuries. Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons has podiatrists skilled in treating sports injuries involving the foot and ankle. 

What are examples of common sports injuries?

Common sports injuries among athletes include:

• Fractures
• Strains
• Sprains
• Tendinitis
• Muscle, tendon, or ligament damage
• Head injuries
• Plantar fasciitis
• Bunions 
• Joint injuries
• Bursitis 

See the specialists at Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons for any injury that causes severe or ongoing pain in your foot or ankle.

What are the risk factors for sustaining a sports injury?

Any athlete can sustain a sports injury, but certain sports are more likely to cause injuries to the feet and ankles. Examples include playing football, hockey, basketball, soccer, running, and dancing. 

Your chance of an injury also increases with aging and previous injuries. Additional risk factors include improper training, overtraining, being overweight, inadequate nutrition, wearing improper footwear, and poor strength or flexibility.

Do I have a sports injury?

To determine which sports injury you may have, a podiatrist evaluates your feet and ankles during a physical exam. They review your medications, symptoms, lifestyle habits, sports training program, and medical history.

Your podiatrist might order X-rays, an MRI, a CT scan, an ultrasound, or another imaging procedure to diagnose your condition and effectively treat it.

How is a sports injury treated?

The sports injury treatment that’s best for your needs depends on the type of injury you have, how severe it is, your lifestyle, and your treatment preferences. 

The providers at Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons may suggest:

• Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE)
• Walking boot
• Custom orthotics 
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Shockwave therapy 
• Bracing
• Athletic taping
• Physical therapy 
• Injections
• Lifestyle changes
• Surgery

If conservative treatments haven’t worked or if you have a severe sports injury, surgery may be the best way to make a full recovery.

It’s also important to eat nutritious foods, maintain an ideal body weight, get plenty of rest, and ease back into physical activity slowly, as directed by your podiatrist. 

To get treated for a sports injury at Platte River Foot and Ankle Surgeons, schedule an appointment by phone or request one online today.