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Care
Foot and Ankle Injuries When to Seek Professional Care
TRAVIS SAUTTER, DPM Cook & Sautter, Foot and Ankle Specialists
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NOW, MORE THAN ever, we have been able to appreciate the opportunity to be outdoors and enjoy what Cache Valley and the surrounding areas have to offer for outdoor recreation. Youth sports programs and high school athletics are also back in full swing.
With these activities come excitement, fun, and great times with friends and family. However, injuries are a common side effect of these activities. No one wants to be kept from their favorite activities or on the sidelines with an injury.
The most common lower extremity injuries involve the foot and ankle, with the most common being an ankle sprain. Other foot and ankle injuries include Achilles tendon sprains/ruptures, as well as foot and ankle fractures.
Chances are during our lifetime, we will all experience a foot and ankle injury. Some of these injuries are minor and can resolve within a few days without professional help. However, many of these injuries require the advice and care of trained medical professionals to heal properly.
With ever-present work, family, sports, and recreational pursuits we may be tempted to try and “tough it out,” “play with the pain,” or simply feel we don’t have the time to address the injury. However, this approach can often lead to longer healing times and more extensive treatment to achieve full recovery.
Here are some common signs that your foot/ankle injury is more severe and requires medical attention: • Inability to bear weight on the injured foot/ankle • Severe swelling and bruising • Feeling or hearing a pop followed by pain and swelling • Pain not controlled with ice or over-the-counter pain medications
In these cases, a medical professional should further examine and diagnose the exact injury. The good news is that with proper care you can get back to your active self. The goals of treatment are always to help you return to an active lifestyle.
For more information about foot and ankle conditions and injuries you can visit foothealthfacts.org. This is a patient education website sponsored by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Dr. Travis Sautter is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Board Certified in Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery.
Dr. Greg Cook
Dr. Travis Sautter
