Foot and Ankle Sports Injuries
Acute and chronic foot & ankle sports injuries are common amongst people of all age groups and activity levels. It is also a common presentation of pro and semi-pro athletes and sports men and women. We specialise in the accurate diagnosis of your sports injury with the help of our multidisciplinary podiatric team and radiologists
You may have one or more of these symptoms:
- Sharp / Stabbing pain
- Deep aching ankle feeling chronically bruised
- Popping
- Instability
- Swelling with pain
- Locking of the joint
Most foot and ankle sports injuries are managed conservatively with ice, rest, braces, splints and air boots and you may return to normal activity levels within a few weeks. However a thorough assessment by a foot & ankle specialist is vital to eliminate serious problems.
X-rays, MRI, Ultrasound and CT scans are commonly used to assess the degree of damage and prognosis of each treatment.
Foot surgery often involves the repair of damage to the foot & ankle which which may have occurred to bone, muscle, tendon, nerve, other soft tissue (such as ligaments). Common sports injury operations include surgery to reconstruct foot & ankle ligaments and tendons, achilles tendon repair, ankle arthroscopy and reconstruction and arthroscopic arthrodesis or fusion surgery to combat symptoms of arthritis.
Common foot and ankle injuries
- Stubbing toes
- Rolling ankles
- Running injuries
How are common foot and ankle injuries assessed?
Stubbing toes – We would need to assess your toe and ensure the bones, joints and tendons are ok. Sometimes this would involve requesting X-rays to rule out a fracture. Often with stubbing toes, the toenail becomes damaged and needs to be removed.
Rolling ankles – There are many structures that can be injured from rolling ankles such as bones, tendons and ligaments. The range of motion in the ankle is examined as well as the common anatomical sites. Imaging is often required to assess all of these structures thoroughly. If you have had a recurrent ankle injury our ankle specialists will typically request an MRI prior to treatment.
Running injuries – Runners often develop injuries. This can affect the foot but also runners develop shin splints or knee pain. The painful area would be identified clinically as imaging is not usually required for running injuries, but it would depend on the severity. Once the pathology is diagnosed a treatment plan can be created. If it is gait related, a gait analysis could be performed to identify problematic areas in the patient’s gait that may be contributing.
How can you treat common foot and ankle injuries?
Stubbing toes – To assist with pain and allow the area to heal, our podiatrists may advise on using an Aircast boot with crutches to offload the area for a few weeks, a therapeutic injection under ultrasound guidance into the joint could also be suggested. If you additionally have a damaged toenail, removal of the toenail and allowing a new one to regrow may be advised.
Rolling ankles – Your ankle specialist may advise on an Aircast boot with crutches so you can mobilse easier and allow the area to heal. Depending on the issue, an ankle brace may be advised. For recurrent ankle issues, or a rupture/ tear to the tendon, surgery could be suggested. An MRI would be required to determine whether this is the case.
Running injuries – Offloading the foot in an Aircast boot with crutches. If the issue is gait related, our podiatrists can also carry out a specialised gait analysis and biomechanical assessment and prescribe custom orthotics, this can help avoid future running injuries. Stretching exercises may be recommended or a referral to a physiotherapist.
How can I prevent common foot and ankle injuries?
Stubbing toes – Wearing good footwear will help you avoid stubbing your toes. It’s important to also keep your toenails short and filled, this can reduce the risk of a damage nail if you do stub your toe.
Rolling ankles – Wearing good and supportive footwear can be beneficial for people who suffer from a rolling ankle. An ankle brace may be recommended, though it is important to see a podiatrist prior to using a brace, as this can cause issues if used with the incorrect injury/ ankle issue.
Running injuries – Wear appropriate footwear. Custom orthotics can be beneficial depending on the underlying cause.
Our specialities include
Testimonial
Excellent decision to come here. All my queries were answered in detail and I'm very happy with the results. Location is also very convenient. Highly recommended.
Having suffered from severe heel pain every morning for some time, with no signs of any improvement or help from my GP, it was The London Foot Clinic who gave me hope. With rounds of Shockwave Therapy and custom fitted orthotics, my feet have never felt better. With first class service and care the team at The London Foot Clinic are the only ones I would trust with my feet..
Thank you very much to care about pleople!!!
Got personal orthotics made for my feet! What a great experience! The whole team was so professional and friendly. They listened to all my questions and concerns about my foot health and issues. My new orthotics are great and have really helped with the pain I was experiencing and has also improved my overall posture ! Thanks Podogo
“I’ve suffered with hip pain and numbness for most of the last decade and had tried everything from acupuncture to sports massage. Then I visited Adnan Nazir at the London Foot Clinic and he discovered one of my legs was shorter than the other. He fitted me with an orthotic insole (which I could wear all the time – even while running half marathons!) and the problem disappeared within 6 weeks! I am now completely pain free and extremely glad I consulted Mr Nazir. It was, quite literally, a life changing decision.”
I recently had my bilateral bunion surgery with Mr Kaser Nazir and couldn’t be more pleased with the results. I hardly experienced any pain following the procedure, and have had a smooth recovery following Mr Nazir’s advice. The rest of staff who have looked after me at the clinic during my follow-up appointments have been brilliant too. I will definitely recommend Mr Nazir’s for any foot condition.
I contacted The London Foot Clinic regarding an old mid foot injury. My foot problem was complicated and possibly involves future surgery due to instability. I received very professional and thorough care from Adnan Nazir. I was offered an opportunity for second opinions on previous MRI and x-ray results which led to a much clearer diagnosis of my foot problem. I received some excellent quality custom made orthotics that have impressed both my osteopath and my foot surgeon, so I know I went to the right place! I would certainly recommend Central Foot Clinic for a podiatric assessment and treatment. I did a lot a research before I chose them and I am lucky to have found this practice.
Having suffered from severe heel pain every morning for some time, with no signs of any improvement or help from my GP, it was The London Foot Clinic who gave me hope. With rounds of Shockwave Therapy and custom fitted orthotics, my feet have never felt better. With first class service and care the team at The London Foot Clinic are the only ones I would trust with my feet….
From the first phone call with Anjelica who is Mr Nazir’s PA she put me completely at ease about my son’s foot. She is friendly and efficient and as a first point of contact I knew I had made the right decision in choosing Mr Nazir. My son was very nervous at the appointment with Mr Nazir but he was extremely friendly and immediately put us both at ease because I knew my son was in safe hands. Mr Nazir explained everything down to the smallest detail and he just knew how to relate to a 14 year old. It was really such a positive experience and I would not hesitate in recommending Mr Nazir.
Mr Nazir – excellent service, really reassuring and great manner.
Angelica obviously works extremely well with Mr Nazir. Nice team
Mr. Stephen Thomas was excellent. Very kind. Kept my holiday on track, for sure!
Steven Thomas was great, really nice guy and made the procedure as easy as possible.