ankle sprain Archives - DOC

#799 Can my doctor tell if I need peroneal tendon surgery by looking at my ankle?

Today’s episode comes from one of the YouTube viewers who was watching a video called “Can I run with a split peroneal tendon?”

I was trying to explain the circumstances when you can run with a split tendon, and when you really shouldn’t.

He wanted to know if his doctor could tell whether or not he needed surgery just by looking at his ankle.

“The MRI tells me I have a split tear. So, presumably as a tear in the peroneal tendon, but I don’t know which one.”

Can my doctor tell me if I need surgery on my peroneal tendon just by looking at my ankle?

Well, that’s a great question and that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

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#780 Can I let runners run in an ankle brace after an ankle sprain?

Today’s episode comes from the question-and-answer period when I was lecturing at the International Foot & Ankle Foundation Medical Conference in Las Vegas. The talk was Conservative Management of Ankle Sprains in Runners Who Want to Run.

During that talk, I explained to the doctors everything that I do with runners who have ankle sprains. Afterward I got a great question from Dr. Bryan Markinson, who is a prominent physician from New York.

He said:

“Okay. Is this stupid or is this not stupid? Because, I get runners who really want to run. I figure when they’re in good shape, it’s okay for them to run in an ankle brace. Is that really a thing that you recommend or not?”

Can I let runners run in an ankle brace after they’ve had an ankle sprain?

Well, that’s a great question, and that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast

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#749 Best test for a runner with ankle sprain

If you’re out on a run and you roll your ankle, you need to know how you can test the ankle to figure out what is wrong.

More importantly, what tests can tell you how likely it is that you’re actually going to get back to running and not have an ankle sprain again.

There are several tests doctors use in evaluating injured ankles. Some are more important than others.

What is the single most important test for a runner with an ankle sprain?

Well, that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

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#742 When to worry an ankle sprain is a Lateral Process Fracture

I just saw a runner who sprained her ankle. It’s been about a month and she’s still having pain. Pain and swelling persisting a month later, are not good. There are a couple of reasons that that can happen.

Anytime doctors see persistent swelling and pain after an ankle injury, they become concerned there might be a fracture.

When should a runner who rolled an ankle be concerned that there might be a fracture like a lateral process fracture?

Well, that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

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#727 3 ways runners lose fitness after an ankle sprain

The first thing any runner should do when you roll your ankle is protect the ankle from further injury. In fact, the algorithm doctors use to treat ankle sprains is P. R. I. C. E.

P stands for Protection, meaning don’t roll it again. Don’t make it worse. Then, Rest it. Ice it. Use Compression to keep it from swelling. Elevate it to get the fluid out if it’s really swollen.

So, what happens is, you’re a runner, you’re out on a trail and you roll your ankle. What happens if you don’t follow the PRICE method?

It just might take a whole lot longer before it gets better.

What are the most common three ways I see runners lose all their fitness after they get an ankle sprain?

Well, that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

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#718 Broken toes with an ankle sprain?

Let’s say you’re out on a trail run, you roll your ankle and sprain it. So what do you do?

You limp home, you get back to the car, you ice it, you take some pressure off of it, you elevate it, you do all the right stuff. But, it’s really painful and swollen the next few days.

Then, maybe a day or two later, it’s black, it’s blue and swollen. But even worse, you look down and you’re kind of dismayed because your toes are swollen like sausages.

Believe it or not, I have had a number of patients who called me, not because they sprained their ankle, but because they were actually worried they may have broken toes as well.

Is it possible to break your toes at the same time you get an ankle sprain?

Well, that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

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#643 The 3 biggest mistake runners make with ankle sprains

Ankle sprains are probably the most common musculoskeletal injury affecting runners. It is really easy to roll an ankle and find yourself limping, unable to run.

You might have sprained your ankle tripping on a root or rock when you’re out running on a trail.

Maybe you were wearing some fancy shoes going out to dinner and you stepped on a little reflector on a crosswalk, twisting your ankle.

No matter how you injure the ankle, if your ankle is painful and swollen it is definitely going to interfere with your running.

What are the three biggest mistakes runners make with ankle sprains?

Well, that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

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#641 Do I recommend ankle braces for runners?

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to give some lectures at the Heartland Podiatry Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. The conference organizers asked me to give an entire “Doc On The Run session” during which I presented five lectures back to back…all on how doctors could approach treatment of injured runners differently.

During the attendee question and answer session, a doctor asked:

“Do you use ankle braces for ankle sprains, and under what circumstances would you recommend braces for recovering runners?

This question came out of what’s called Conservative Management of Ankle Sprains in Runners Who Want to Run.

Do I recommend ankle braces for runners?

Well, that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

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#585 How can a diagnostic injection help heal an ankle sprain?

Let’s say you are out running on a trail and you catch a root and you roll your ankle.

You limp back home and you realize that your ankle is all swollen. It is bruised, it hurts and you’re really bummed out.

You are trying to figure out what you can do to get this thing to calm down faster and get back to running. Well, there are lots of different options.

How can a diagnostic injection help an ankle sprain?

Well, that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc on the Run podcast.

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#483 What is a subtalar joint sprain in a runner?

Ankle sprains are incredibly common in runners. Sprained ankles account for about 10% of all musculoskeletal injuries that show up in the Emergency Room. But there is another injury that can seem sort of like an ankle sprain, but doesn’t respond to treatment the same way. This sprain is not in the ankle. It is a sprain of the joint under the ankle…the subtalar joint. It’s called a Subtalar Joint Sprain. What is a subtalar joint sprain in a runner? Well, that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

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