Jan 1, 2009: New Begins With Many Pro Athletes Sidelined with Ankle Injury.
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Jamaal Anderson has still not practiced since suffering a high ankle sprain against Minnesota on Dec. 21 and will likely will be inactive Saturday.
San Diego Charger's Antonio Gates, who is still suffering from a high ankle sprain, may not play in the playoff opener against the Colts.
Washington Wizards' Caron Butler twisted his left ankle during a Christmas night game versus the Thunder and has missed the last three games.
Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson aggravated his nagging ankle sprain in a game against the Giants, and may be out.
Eagles' running back Brian Westbrook has been limited because of ankle injuries.
Don't let ankle injuries keep you out. See the Ankle Injury Prevention and Treatment Page at www.AnkleCenter.com.
Dr. Christopher Segler is Marathon Runner, Ironman, as well as an award-winning podiatrist, and sports medicine foot surgeon practicing at the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga. For more information about heel pain, bunions, ingrown toenails and ankle pain, and other common causes of foot pain, you can order a FREE copy of his book, My Fit Feet, by visiting http://www.MyRunningDoc.com or http://www.AnkleCenter.com.
Showing posts with label tendinitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tendinitis. Show all posts
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Houston Rockets’ Forward Still Out with an Ankle Sprain
The Houston Rockets’ forward Ron Artest is still out with an ankle sprain. Artest will probably be out for at least two games and is not expected to accompany the Rockets on the two-game road trip this weekend. He needs to rest his sore and swollen right ankle, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. “Ron will likely not travel with the team in order to rehab his right ankle,” Rockets athletic trainer Keith Jones said.
An MRI on Tuesday showed slightly torn ligaments (known as a Grade 1 sprain) in Artest’s ankle, a condition that has been aggravated by an ankle sprain suffered Nov. 17 during a game in Oklahoma City.
Usually high level athletes will back in the game sooner than this with a mild sprain. “While our medical staff agrees that the ankle injury is fine to play on, Ron is understandably frustrated that the pain has not subsided as he had hoped, so he wants to try sitting out the two-game road trip in order to see if the pain recedes.” Artest’s agent, David Bauman, said the swelling was particularly bad after Artest played for only 39 minutes in Tuesday’s 92-84 winning game over Atlanta.
“Looks like now is the time to do this and let him rest,” Bauman said. “It’s a back-to-back. It’s one of these things, unless he gets a chance to get a consistent chance to rest, it’s not going to get better. Taking off the Memphis game made him a little better. But today it was swollen and painful.”
Ankle sprains are common injuries and account for about 85% of all orthopedic injuries and 45% of all sports-related injuries.
There are three categories of sprains, based on the severity of the ankle injury.
1. First degree ankle sprain:
Some stretching or minor tearing of ligaments.
Mild pain and swelling.
Some difficulty walking.
2. Second degree ankle sprain:
Moderate tearing of ligaments.
Moderate pain and swelling.
Moderate difficulty walking.
Minor instability of the joint.
3. Third degree ankle sprain:
Rupture (complete tear) of at least one ligament ligament.
Instability of the joint (with risk of further injury).
Severe pain and swelling.
Inability to bear weight.
The best way to treat an ankle sprain is the PRICE method (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). Wear a splint or brace to protect it. Resting the foot will prevent further damage, and crutches should be used to prevent applying pressure to the ankle. Once you are able to bear weight without pain, it is best to do so because it accelerates the recovery process. Applying ice will initially reduce the swelling. Compression reduces swelling as well as providing ankle support. Elevating the ankle allows blood to flow away from the sprain and further reduces the swelling.
Since ankle injuries are usually accidental, it is difficult to prevent them. Bracing or taping can help. Always wearing proper fitting shoes that offer support around the ankle. This can reduce will the chances and severity of an injury. Ankle injuries cause damage that makes them unstable. The instability can increase the future risk of another sprain. By following a rehabilitation program and doing strengthening exercises, you can reduce the chances of a repeat injury.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an Ironman Finisher and award winning foot and ankle surgeon specializing in elite athletes. His podiatry practice is at the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga. To learn more about Achilles tendonitis, runner’s heel pain, stress fractures, bunions and other common causes of foot pain, you can register for a FREE membership and copy of his monthly newsletter “Finisher’s Circle” by visiting http://www.AnkleCenter.com .
An MRI on Tuesday showed slightly torn ligaments (known as a Grade 1 sprain) in Artest’s ankle, a condition that has been aggravated by an ankle sprain suffered Nov. 17 during a game in Oklahoma City.
Usually high level athletes will back in the game sooner than this with a mild sprain. “While our medical staff agrees that the ankle injury is fine to play on, Ron is understandably frustrated that the pain has not subsided as he had hoped, so he wants to try sitting out the two-game road trip in order to see if the pain recedes.” Artest’s agent, David Bauman, said the swelling was particularly bad after Artest played for only 39 minutes in Tuesday’s 92-84 winning game over Atlanta.
“Looks like now is the time to do this and let him rest,” Bauman said. “It’s a back-to-back. It’s one of these things, unless he gets a chance to get a consistent chance to rest, it’s not going to get better. Taking off the Memphis game made him a little better. But today it was swollen and painful.”
Ankle sprains are common injuries and account for about 85% of all orthopedic injuries and 45% of all sports-related injuries.
There are three categories of sprains, based on the severity of the ankle injury.
1. First degree ankle sprain:
Some stretching or minor tearing of ligaments.
Mild pain and swelling.
Some difficulty walking.
2. Second degree ankle sprain:
Moderate tearing of ligaments.
Moderate pain and swelling.
Moderate difficulty walking.
Minor instability of the joint.
3. Third degree ankle sprain:
Rupture (complete tear) of at least one ligament ligament.
Instability of the joint (with risk of further injury).
Severe pain and swelling.
Inability to bear weight.
The best way to treat an ankle sprain is the PRICE method (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). Wear a splint or brace to protect it. Resting the foot will prevent further damage, and crutches should be used to prevent applying pressure to the ankle. Once you are able to bear weight without pain, it is best to do so because it accelerates the recovery process. Applying ice will initially reduce the swelling. Compression reduces swelling as well as providing ankle support. Elevating the ankle allows blood to flow away from the sprain and further reduces the swelling.
Since ankle injuries are usually accidental, it is difficult to prevent them. Bracing or taping can help. Always wearing proper fitting shoes that offer support around the ankle. This can reduce will the chances and severity of an injury. Ankle injuries cause damage that makes them unstable. The instability can increase the future risk of another sprain. By following a rehabilitation program and doing strengthening exercises, you can reduce the chances of a repeat injury.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an Ironman Finisher and award winning foot and ankle surgeon specializing in elite athletes. His podiatry practice is at the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga. To learn more about Achilles tendonitis, runner’s heel pain, stress fractures, bunions and other common causes of foot pain, you can register for a FREE membership and copy of his monthly newsletter “Finisher’s Circle” by visiting http://www.AnkleCenter.com .
Monday, December 8, 2008
Achilles Tendon Surgery May Help Hurdler Liu
During the height of the 2008 Olympic Games, the world watched as Liu Xiang, China's 110m hurdles world champion, limped of the track. He had been plagued with Achilles tendon problems. He was forced to withdraw before his first-round heat at the Bird's Nest in August. It was obvious watching him try to start his key event that the pain was not just emotional.
But now there is hope that in spite of his Achilles tendon he will get back to running again. Lui traveled to the United States to have surgery last Friday to remove bone spurs that kept causing irritation to the tendon. The operation should decrease his chances for future Achilles tendonitis.
"We felt he did very well through the surgery," surgeon Thomas Clanton, who also helped Houston Rockets' Chinese centre Yao Ming recover from a foot stress fracture last year, told the China Daily. "His prognosis for running in the future is quite good."
It should take a bout six months of recovery before he is back to running again. On big advantage he his is his extraordinary physical conditioning. In general, athletes recover much faster after surgery than sedentary individuals. Right now he is hping to start jogging in late January.
The Achilles tendon is largest tendon anywhere in the human body. It is also the most frequently injured of all tendons. In Lui's case he had four small pieces of bone actually imbedded within the tendon that had to be removed. These often start out as bone spurs where the tendon attaches to the heel bone. With enough strain, they can break off. These broken spurs are sort of the equivalent of gravel in the tendon.
All of that irritation can cause chronic pain and inflammation which can weaken the tendon leading to Achilles tendon tears. We see these in our office very frequently among runners of all distances.
If you develop problems with your Achilles tendon, rest, ice, and stop running until you get checked out. Otherwise the world may be watching the day you limp off the Olympic track.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an award winning foot surgeon and Ironman Finisher who treats elite athletes. His podiatry sports medicine practice is at the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga. To learn more about increasing your speed and avoiding running injuries like tendonitis, shin splints and stress fractures, you can register for a FREE membership and copy of his monthly newsletter “Finisher’s Circle” by visiting http://www.AnkleCenter.com .
But now there is hope that in spite of his Achilles tendon he will get back to running again. Lui traveled to the United States to have surgery last Friday to remove bone spurs that kept causing irritation to the tendon. The operation should decrease his chances for future Achilles tendonitis.
"We felt he did very well through the surgery," surgeon Thomas Clanton, who also helped Houston Rockets' Chinese centre Yao Ming recover from a foot stress fracture last year, told the China Daily. "His prognosis for running in the future is quite good."
It should take a bout six months of recovery before he is back to running again. On big advantage he his is his extraordinary physical conditioning. In general, athletes recover much faster after surgery than sedentary individuals. Right now he is hping to start jogging in late January.
The Achilles tendon is largest tendon anywhere in the human body. It is also the most frequently injured of all tendons. In Lui's case he had four small pieces of bone actually imbedded within the tendon that had to be removed. These often start out as bone spurs where the tendon attaches to the heel bone. With enough strain, they can break off. These broken spurs are sort of the equivalent of gravel in the tendon.
All of that irritation can cause chronic pain and inflammation which can weaken the tendon leading to Achilles tendon tears. We see these in our office very frequently among runners of all distances.
If you develop problems with your Achilles tendon, rest, ice, and stop running until you get checked out. Otherwise the world may be watching the day you limp off the Olympic track.
Dr. Christopher Segler is an award winning foot surgeon and Ironman Finisher who treats elite athletes. His podiatry sports medicine practice is at the Ankle & Foot Center of Chattanooga. To learn more about increasing your speed and avoiding running injuries like tendonitis, shin splints and stress fractures, you can register for a FREE membership and copy of his monthly newsletter “Finisher’s Circle” by visiting http://www.AnkleCenter.com .
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