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Clark, NJ 07066

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Foot Notes

Posts for category: Ankle Pain

By Clark Podiatry Center
July 05, 2017
Category: Ankle Pain

The excitement of drafting Malik Monk to the Charlotte Hornets quickly simmered down after his ankle injury during the draft workout process. He suffered an ankle sprain and is expected to be out for about 2 to 4 weeks as he gets treatment. In the mean time, the rookie shooting guard will be learning about the team from the sidelines.  

What determines when he comes back?

A couple things should be considered after an ankle sprain: severity of the sprain, as well as time for healing and recovery.

Ankle Sprain Grades (according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons):

  • Mild Sprain (Grade 1) – Overstretching and/or small tears of the ligament fibers.
  • Moderate Sprain (Grade 2) – Partial tears of the ligament.
  • Severe Sprain (Grade 3) – Complete tear of the ligament.

Healing and Recovery:

  • Grade 1 Sprain – PRINCE: Protection, Rest, Ice, NSAIDs, Compression, and Elevation. Swelling should subside within a couple of days, but the ankle should not be vigorously used until it is healed and rehabilitated with strengthening exercises (which takes about 2 weeks).
  • Grade 2 Sprain – In addition to the above, a removable air cast or boot can be used to immobilize and protect the sprained ankle while it heals. Crutches will probably be needed to assist in mobility. Physical Therapy will then help with recovery to strengthen and condition the ankle for regular use. The whole process can take 6+ weeks.
  • Grade 3 Sprain – For this kind of severe sprain, a short leg cast or cast-brace will be needed to immobilize and protect the ankle. The healing process can take much longer and so does the rehab process (with physical therapy). The whole process can take about 6 to 12 weeks.

Ankle sprains occur from a bad twist or injury to the ligaments of the ankle. Most occur on the outside of the ankle and symptoms will include pain and swelling. They can occur in many settings, with most occurring during athletic activity. Because of this, it’s important to strengthen and condition the ankles regularly, as it can happen to anyone – even start athletes like Malik Monk!

To properly diagnose the sprain and determine the best treatment, it’s best to consult our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy. Make an appointment today at Clark Podiatry Center to have your ankle assessed and treated with care. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns! We keep you walking!

 

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By Clark Podiatry Center
March 29, 2017
Category: Ankle Pain
Tags: Ankle Sprains   RICE method  

On Sunday, March 19th, Brooklyn Nets’ point guard, Jeremy Lin jumped and then landed on another basketball player’s foot, spraining his right ankle. His game play was short-lived, having to sit out within the first few minutes of the first quarter of the game against the Dallas Mavericks. He limped off the court, but was seen riding a stationary bicycle during the second half.

After the game, coach Atkinson told journalists that while Lin needed more assessment, the injury did not seem very serious. This was important, given that he’d been out for several weeks in the beginning of the season due to hamstring issues. Tuesday, however, Lin sat out of the game, as he was not fully recovered. He and his coach decided that he wouldn’t play until he was back to 100%.

A few lessons can be learned here:

  1. A sprained ankle does not always mean that you cannot do any more activity. There are alternative exercises that you can do, that are low-impact. A stationary bike or swimming can be good alternatives to cardiovascular exercise when you cannot play other sports due to ankle sprain. However, it’s important to listen to your body, as pain does not help the healing process and can come with inflammation.
  2. There are varying levels of ankle sprains that can have varying degrees of severity: Grade 1: ligament(s) is overstretched, Grade 2: ligament is partially torn, Grade 3: ligament is fully torn. Depending on how severe the injury is, recovery can take much time and patients need to stay away from activity that could worsen symptoms. (See previous blog post for additional information).
  3. Even athletes suffer from ankle sprains. They warm up and condition constantly, and yet anything can happen. This is why it is important to take care of your ankles and do exercises to strengthen them. It is also important to wait until you are fully recovered before getting back into the game.

If you or your child has an ankle sprain, first assess how severe it is. If your symptoms are mild, like pain and swelling, you can use the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) until healed. When symptoms are more severe, especially if there is severe pain and you’re unable to bear weight or move the ankle without pain, you should come see our podiatrist.

If you or your child has a severely sprained ankle, make an appointment today at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy can find the best treatment option for recovery. We are located in Clark, NJ in Union County and our team is ready to help! We keep you walking.

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Podiatrist - Clark, Dr. Brandon Macy, 1114 Raritan Road, Clark NJ, 07066 732-382-3470