Consider enrolling in sports medicine if you enjoy running, playing sports, or leading an active life. At Family Foot & Ankle Center in Upland, California, the board-certified foot and ankle surgeons provide sports medicine to people of all ages. Routine checkups help you maximize your workouts and prevent injuries. Plus, sports medicine speeds up healing after a fall or another accident to get you back to your favorite things. Call Family Foot & Ankle Center today to schedule sports medicine, or book your visit online.

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What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine diagnoses, treats, and prevents activity-related injuries. It uses patient education as well as physical therapy and rehabilitation to help athletes maximize their performance on the court, track, and field. It provides prompt treatment to relieve pain and restore mobility when injuries happen.

The Family Foot & Ankle Center team is extensively trained in managing injuries in runners, athletes, and other active people. Their minimally invasive approach allows quicker recoveries and lasting treatment outcomes.

Which injuries does sports medicine treat?

The Family Foot & Ankle Center team uses sports medicine to treat various activity-related injuries, including:

  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the plantar fascia)
  • Bone spurs
  • Ankle sprains
  • Dislocated joints
  • Stress fractures
  • Bursitis
  • Bone bruises
  • Bunions
  • Hammertoe
  • Torn cartilage
  • Turf toe

You might benefit from sports medicine if you have a Morton’s neuroma –– inflammation of the interdigital nerves at the front of your foot.

How does a foot and ankle surgeon diagnose a sports injury?

Your Family Foot & Ankle Center provider asks about your injury, including what you were doing when it happened, where the pain is, and if it’s worse at certain times, like when you first wake up in the morning.

They complete a podiatry exam, checking the heels, arches, and soles of your feet for swelling, bruising, and discoloration. They gently press on your foot to identify sensitive spots and ask you to stand and walk to assess your posture.

Your provider orders X-rays, an ultrasound, or an MRI if they suspect a fracture, torn ligament, or inflamed nerve. Imaging helps determine the exact site of your injury and guides treatment.

Which treatments does sports medicine use?

The Family Foot & Ankle Center treats sports injuries by taking a conservative, minimally invasive approach. They could suggest:

  • Immobilization with a cast or splint
  • Taking prescription anti-inflammatory medication
  • Corticosteroid injections
  • Custom-fitted orthotics (prescription shoe inserts)
  • Physical therapy and rehab

Most sports injuries improve with a combination of treatments. But if your symptoms continue or get worse, you might need surgery. That’s particularly true if you have a broken bone or a dislocated joint that needs to be repaired.

Call Family Foot & Ankle Center today to schedule a sports medicine appointment, or book your visit online.