Podiatry Services Bendigo
Sports Injuries
With hundreds of different types of lower limb and sporting injuries, it isn’t surprising that at some point in your sporting lifetime, you will come across an injury that puts you on the bench. Depending on the types of sports you are involved in, some are more common (and frequent) than others.
Causes
Most sporting injuries are caused by overuse, excessive forces, or repeated compression. Many of these injuries can be easily prevented by having your walking, running and sporting posture assessed by a Podiatrist. At Evolve Podiatry Bendigo we believe that preventative care is essential for your continued ability to function. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an elite Athlete, we are here to care for you.
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Common Sporting Injuries
Heel
- Plantar Fasciitis
Strain, tearing or rupture (painless) of the plantar fascia – a structure that helps maintain the arch of the foot - Fat pad atrophy
Common with repeated impact to the heel, with certain medical conditions and medications, or poor foot posture - Nerve compression
Sharp, stabbing pain in heel, usually when weight bearing or can be burning or throbbing when non-weight bearing
Ankle
- Sprain
Multiple ligaments surrounding the ankle joint can become sprained (stretched, torn or ruptured) - Avulsion Fracture
Usually following an ankle inversion or eversion sprain, the ligaments tear from their insertion and take some bone with it - Stress reaction or fracture
Small or large breaks within the bone or joints making up the ankle joint (tibia, fibula, and talus)
Mid-foot
- Osteoarthritis
Affecting the mid-tarsals, osteophyte (bony spurs) formation often seen causing lumps on top of feet. Seen commonly in excessively high or low arch foot types - Lisfranc’s Injury
Dislocation or fracture of the mid-foot joints. This condition is rare but serious if left untreated - Metatarsal Fractures / Stress Reactions
Overuse injury usually affecting the thinner 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th metatarsal shafts
Forefoot (front) of the foot
- Bursitis
Inflamed sacs of fluid found in the intermetarsal space that press on the surrounding structures creating pain - Sesamoiditis
Inflammation of the structures under metatarsal joint of the big toe - Neuroma
Inflammation of the intermetatarsal nerves that creates nerve pain or symptoms
Outer (lateral) side of the foot
- Peroneus Longus or Brevis Tendinopathy
Damage to the tendons or their sheath. Pain may occur where they cross underneath the ankle - Styoid avulsion fracture
Seen in overuse injuries and inversion ankle injuries where the peroneus brevis tendon tears away from its insertion at the styloid bone - Accessory bones
Can increase friction between bones and tendons resulting in pain
Inner (medial) side of the foot
- Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
Usually felt behind the inside of the ankle, can radiate all along the inside of the foot and up into the lower leg - Deltoid ligament Sprain
Seen in both eversion (rolling in) and inversion (rolling out) ankle injuries - Baxter’s Nerve Impingement
Compression of a branch of the inferior calcaneal nerve that supplies the bottom of the foot
Lower Limb
- Achilles Injuries
Overuse and tension create pain in the insertion or mid-portion of the Achilles tendon - Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome)
Pain at the front of the leg, along the shin, when running or walking - Compartment syndrome
Chronic or acute compression of the lower limb structures due to a build-up of pressure within the lower limb
Toes
- Hallux Limitus / Rigidus
Known as “Turf Toe”, when direct impact, hyperextension or hyperflexion is applied to the big toe. Joint surface injury and inflammation occurs - Dislocation
Excessive forces pull the toes out of alignment, the ligaments securing the joints become stretched and damaged and the toe is highly unstable - Bunions
The big toe has shifted away from the midline of the body, greater than 15 ֯ from the metatarsal shaft
Skin and Nails
- Bruised and ingrown nails
Caused by impact and friction of the toes against the shoe - Callus, corns, and blisters
Increased friction and compression stresses on the foot inside the shoes - Fungal nails and tinea
Warm, sweaty environment creates the perfect breeding group for fungal infections
How we can help you with your sporting injury
Therapies & treatments
Strapping
Providing immediate, short-term relief from pain, we can strap the foot to assist or reduce movement for protection. We can teach you simple techniques that you can repeat at home.
Load and pressure redistribution
We use a range of methods to achieve optimal load through the foot and lower limb. Each one will be uniquely designed for you. We use in-shoe padding and off the shelf devices for shock absorption and cushioning. When more comprehensive interventions are required, we can custom design an orthotic to suit your unique foot posture and injury. We use video gait analysis to thoroughly assess your walking and running patterns and 3D foot scanning technologies. Your custom-made device will be slim-line and versatile, considering all your functional needs.
Footwear improvements and modifications
Often our first culprit for the cause of an injury is your footwear. With so many brands and styles on the market, it is easy to be misled by clever marketing. We have extensive knowledge on a broad range of sporting shoes and footwear. We will thoroughly assess you and recommend the style that is right for your unique foot posture and sporting requirements.
Adjunct therapies
A broad range of adjunct therapies for both in clinic and at home use to speed up your recovery and return to activity. These therapies are also great to use following recovery to prevent re-injury. They can include strapping, Ice and/or Heat therapy, massage and trigger point needling of the foot and lower limb.
Immobilisation
For sever, acute or chronic sporting injuries, we may recommend a CAM walker (moon boot) to offload your foot and/or lower limb for a number of weeks. It is essential that you are thoroughly assessed prior to commencing this treatment; your medical, lifestyle and risk factors must be taken into consideration prior to prescription.
Frequently Asked Questions
We may recommend using topical or oral anti-inflammatories, or other over-the-counter pain relief. You should be assessed properly prior to commencing any over-the-counter therapies.
We always recommend seeking the advice of a pharmacist or your GP prior to commencing any oral therapies.
At Evolve Podiatry Bendigo we are very confident in our ability to help almost everyone with any of their foot health complaints. However, if for whatever reason you are not seeing any clinical improvements within your pre-determined timeline (we will likely know before you will), then we will refer you on to a Sport Specialist, Podiatric Surgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon, or other specialist Health Care Professional that we believe will be able to help you.
We can assist in helping your sporting injuries and regularly see patients in Bendigo and across key suburbs including: