Ankle & Foot

Ankle Sprains

A sprain is an injury to the ligaments around a joint. Ligaments are the strong, flexible fibers that connect one bone to another. When a ligament is stretched too far or tears, the joint will become painful and swell. An ankle sprain can range from mild to severe depending on how badly the ligament is damaged. Most ankle sprains happen when you make a rapid shifting movement with your foot planted, like when playing soccer or being tackled in football. A sprain can occur in an event as simple as accidentally rolling your ankle.

Symptoms:

Mild sprain

• Pain in the ankle
• Tenderness, swelling, and stiffness
• Bruising may occur in a more serious sprain

Severe sprain

• Pain
• Bruising, tenderness
• Weakness, “wobbly” ankle
• Walking is not possible because the ankle gives out

Plantar Fascitis

This condition is a heel pain caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, the tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. Your plantar fascia acts like a shock-absorbing bowstring, supporting the arch in your foot. If tension becomes too great, it can create small tears in the fascia. Repetitive stretching and tearing can cause the fascia to become irritated or inflamed. The band of fascia may swell and become painful. This is one of the most common foot-related orthopedic complaints.

Symptoms:

• Sharp, stabbing pain in the inside part of the bottom of your heel
• Pain in the bottom of the heel, usually worse in the morning and improving throughout the day
• Pain that worsens when climbing stairs or when standing on tiptoe
• Pain after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position
• Pain after, but not usually during, exercise
• Mild swelling in your heel