Sports Injuries
Sport Injuries Treatment in Ocoee, FL
If you’re an athlete or physically active individual, you’re also more susceptible to sports injuries. Fortunately, activities like stretching, warming up, and cooling down can significantly reduce your risk. At West Orange Podiatry, expert podiatrist Michael Laliberte, DPM, works with adults and teens to diagnose and treat sports injuries. To make an appointment at the practice in Ocoee, Florida, call the office today or schedule online.
FAQ's About Sport Injuries
Sports injuries occur while working out or participating in other types of physical activity. Sports injuries affect people of all ages, but several factors can increase your risk, including failing to warm up before exercise, not wearing the necessary safety equipment, and playing contact sports.
If you experience a sports injury, stop your activity. Most common issues respond well to conservative, at-home treatments like rest, ice, and elevation.
At West Orange Podiatry, Dr. Laliberte diagnoses and treats sports injuries that affect the feet and ankles, including:
- Ankle sprains.
- Foot and ankle strains.
- Swollen muscles.
- Dislocated joints.
- Foot and ankle fractures.
You might also benefit from sports injury care if you experience a crush injury, like dropping a free weight or kettlebell on your foot.
Many sports injuries respond to conservative, at-home treatments, but some are more serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact West Orange Podiatry immediately:
- Severe swelling and pain.
- Visible lumps, bumps, or other abnormalities.
- Popping or crunching sounds.
- Trouble standing or the inability to put weight on your foot or ankle.
Dr. Laliberte can get you in for an evaluation and determine the source of your discomfort.
At West Orange Podiatry, Dr. Laliberte diagnoses sports injuries by reviewing your medical history, asking about your symptoms, and physically examining your feet and ankles. If in-office measures like a range of motion and strength test don’t provide enough insight into your injury, Dr. Laliberte might order X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan.
At West Orange Podiatry, Dr. Laliberte usually recommends conservative treatments to manage sports injuries. He might recommend:
- Rest.
- Ice.
- Compression.
- Elevation.
- Physical therapy.
- Casting or splinting.
- Custom orthotics.
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT).
- Over-the-counter pain medication.
- Corticosteroid injections.
If noninvasive measures of care don’t ease your symptoms, Dr. Laliberte might recommend surgery. Whenever possible, he conducts minimally invasive procedures that result in quicker recoveries and less downtime.
To reduce your risk of a sports injury, it’s important to warm up and cool down before and after exercise. In addition, Dr. Laliberte recommends using the proper technique and wearing the necessary safety equipment.