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Dr. Benjamin Johnson Finds Half of NBA injuries are to the Ankle

Dr. Benjamin Johnson, an orthopedic surgeon, found that 50% of NBA injuries and 25% of NFL injuries were to the feet and ankles. In addition, 40% of high school athletic injuries were to the feet and ankles. The most common type of injury was a sprained or rolled ankle. Dr. Johnson also found that 28% of all injury recurrences involve the ankle joint. Because of the frequency of ankle injuries, he recommends that all athletes take proper care and precautions with their ankles, and immediately seek care and rehabilitation when an injury occurs to prevent chronic ankle weakness and instability.

As Dr. Johnson shows, ankle injuries are among the most common injuries amongst many sports athletes. If you are involved in one of these sports and have experienced an ankle injury, such as a sprain or a broken ankle, it is highly recommended to seek the care of a podiatrist, like Dr. Zahid Ladha, F.A.C.F.A.S. of Foot First Podiatry. Dr. Ladha can help examine your ankle and determine the appropriate treatment options for any ankle sprains or broken ankles you might have.

Broken Ankles

The ankle consists of three bones- the tibia, the fibula, and the talus. The tibia and the fibula are the two bones that connect to your knees. They sit directly above the talus bone, which is protected by a fibrous membrane and allows slight movement in the ankle joint. A break usually occurs in one of these bones after the foot is twisted too far, a strong impact like jumping from a great height, or repeated stresses like running.

Diagnosis

If you suffer an ankle injury, it is essential that you receive a correct diagnosis. One of the first signs that the ankle is broken is an inability to put any weight on it. There will often be severe bruising and swelling at the sight of the injury. Your doctor may also order an x-ray be taken to determine the exact location and extent of the injury.

Treatment

Without proper care, a broken ankle may not heal properly and could cause arthritis and instability later in life. Therefore, seeking proper treatment is essential to making a full recovery.

There a number of steps you can take to accelerate the healing process however. Elevating your feet above your head and icing the ankle can reduce pain and swelling. Your doctor may decide that surgery is the best option, in which case you will likely be in a cast for at least three months. In all cases, a thorough rehabilitation program will help strengthen the leg and prevent the muscles from atrophying.

If you have any questions, please contact our office located in New Albany, IN. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle injuries.

Read the Full Article on Broken Ankles.

Foot First Podiatry

3605 Northgate Ct Ste 206
New Albany, IN 47150
(812) 945-9221 (812) 945-7141

Our Location

3605 Northgate Ct Ste 206 New Albany, IN 47150

Hours of Operation

The office is closed from 12:00 to 1:00 for lunch Monday thru Thursday.

Foot First Podiatry

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-4:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-1:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed