Sports Injuries

Sports injuries like bone spurs, stress fractures, and plantar fasciitis can be crippling. However, prompt medical attention relieves pain and promotes healing so that you can get back on the court or playing field. At Global Podiatry in Arlington Heights, Chicago and Wheeling, Illinois, experienced podiatrists Simon Donets, DPM, Yelena Barsky, DPM, and their team take a conservative, integrative approach to treating sports injuries. Call the nearest Global Podiatry office today to schedule sports injury treatment, or book your appointment online.

Do sports injuries need professional treatment?

Mild to moderate sports injuries typically improve on their own with rest, ice, and other at-home treatments. But if your symptoms continue for more than a week or worsen, it becomes necessary to identify the cause.

The Global Podiatry team treats sports injuries in people of all ages. Their extensive knowledge of foot and ankle problems ensures positive treatment outcomes, letting patients return to their favorite activities.

Which sports injuries affect the feet and ankles?

The Global Podiatry team treats various sports injuries affecting the feet and ankles, including:

• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Plantar fasciitis
• Heel spurs
• Stress fractures
• Bunions
• Hammertoe
• Fallen arches (flatfoot)
• Ankle pain
• Ankle sprains
• Ankle instability
• Bursitis

Mild sports injuries like muscle strains also benefit from treatment. Intervention prevents the problem from getting worse and reduces your risk of complications.

How are sports injuries diagnosed?

Your Global Podiatry provider asks about your symptoms, including where the pain is at, what it feels like, and if a specific incident triggered it. They examine the affected area (the heel or the ball of your foot), checking for redness, bruising, and swelling.

Your provider assesses your flexibility, muscle strength, and reflexes and has you walk around to observe your gait (how you walk) and posture. They gently press on your foot or ankle to identify sensitive spots and refer you to Northwest Orthopedic Surgery, SC, in nearby Arlington Heights, Illinois, for X-rays or an MRI.

After identifying which sports injury you have and how severe it is, your provider develops a personalized treatment.

How are sports injuries treated?

The Global Podiatry team takes a conservative, minimally invasive approach to treating sports injuries. They could suggest:

• Custom orthotics (prescription shoe inserts)
• Shockwave therapy
• Immobilization with a cast, splint, or walking boot
• Prescription anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pain and swelling
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation
• Physical therapy to heal and strengthen an injured foot or ankle

Most athletes benefit from a combination of treatments. But if you have a severe injury, your provider might recommend foot and ankle surgery. Global Podiatry offers traditional open and minimally invasive surgery to correct fractures and repair ligament, cartilage, and tendon tears.

Call the nearest Global Podiatry office today to schedule sports injury treatment, or book your appointment online.