Does Plantar Fasciitis Go Away On Its Own?
Plantar fasciitis is a widespread sports injury, but will it go away without treatment? Keep reading to learn more about plantar fasciitis and when you can expect relief from painful symptoms.
Foot Sprains: 5 Ways to Heal Efficiently
Sprains can happen anywhere you have ligaments that connect bones. These ligaments help to stabilize joints and prevent excessive movements.
The feet are especially prone to sprains due to overuse and sports injuries. If you end up with a foot sprain, proper rehabilitation is necessary to resume normal activities – but how?
At Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio, Dr. Marque A. Allen provides various treatments for foot and ankle injuries. Dr. Allen is a podiatry specialist providing topical CBD products, physical therapy, and surgical intervention for foot sprains.
What is a foot sprain?
A foot sprain is an injury that happens when the ligaments in the foot stretch beyond their normal capacity or tear. It typically occurs after stretching the foot awkwardly while playing sports or during physical activity.
There are different grades of a foot sprain that range from mild to severe. A mild sprain happens when the ligaments stretch too far, while a severe sprain leads to a tear in the ligaments.
Foot sprains cause various symptoms, ranging from a mild ache to severe issues with movement. Some of the prevalent symptoms of a foot sprain include:
- Pain with walking
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Tenderness
- Foot instability
- Limited range-of-motion
You may also hear a snap or pop at the time of the injury. These symptoms vary from person to person and depend on the severity of the sprain.
Treating a foot sprain immediately is the key to preventing long-term issues with the foot. Allowing the ligaments to heal is crucial to avoid reinjury.
Five ways to heal from a foot sprain
Healing from a foot sprain takes some time, anywhere from two weeks for a mild injury to 12 weeks for a severe sprain. However, there are steps you can take to help your sprain heal effectively, and they include:
1. Rest and ice the foot
Resting and icing the foot are essential to relieve swelling and pain from a sprain. Elevate the foot on a pillow while sitting, and put ice on the injury for 20 minutes several times a day. These steps help reduce inflammation immediately after the injury, allowing it to heal.
2. Pain management
Pain management is a crucial step in the healing process, especially for a severe sprain. Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling and pain, especially in the first few days of the injury.
3. Strength and balance exercises
Strengthening the foot and ankle joint after a sprain is crucial to regain function. We have you start strength training exercises as soon as the swelling and pain subside to prevent stiffness and improve overall mobility.
Balance exercises are also essential to prevent further foot injuries while the ligaments are still weak.
4. Physical therapy
Physical therapy is an essential aspect in healing a foot sprain. It provides critical exercises and stretches that reduce pain and inflammation, while also strengthening the supporting tissues around the injured ligaments.
Working in conjunction with Dr. Allen’s recommendations, a physical therapist can develop a specific treatment plan for your needs to address balance, strength, range of motion, and flexibility.
5. Use crutches or a brace
Crutches help you get around and keep weight off the injury, allowing it to heal quickly. A brace reduces swelling and movement in the foot, which also prevents too much movement or pain as the sprain heals.
What else can I do for relief?
In most cases, conservative treatments are enough to heal a foot sprain efficiently. Rest, physical therapy, and immobilization might be enough. If not, Dr. Allen offers regenerative medicine injections to help accelerate healing.
He also provides topical CBD products to ease discomfort while you heal. These products are natural and alleviate pain and swelling in the foot.
If all conservative measures fail to heal a foot sprain, Dr. Allen may recommend surgical repair. During surgery, he repairs ruptured or damaged ligaments to provide long-lasting relief.
To learn more about our foot sprain treatments, call one of our offices in Alamo Heights or San Antonio, Texas, today to schedule an appointment or request a consultation via our website.
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