FOOT, AND ANKLEAn overview of how and why injuries occur, how to help prevent them, and how to treat them.

By Mattie Weber

MECHANISM OF INJURY (HOW IT HAPPENED, OR WHY IT HAPPENED)

An injury is either functional or structural An injury can be caused by tension

(stretching), compression, shearing, or bending

STRUCTURAL

A structural injury is caused by excessive stress on the bone, by lengthened or shortened tissue, or overuse of a muscle/ tissue

EXAMPLES OF A STRUCTURAL INJURY

Claw Toes Hammer Toes Damage to the Accesory Navicular Morton’s Neuroma Hallux Valgus

CLAW TOES

This happens when flexor digitorum brevis ( a muscle that connects to the middle phalanx of the toes) over powers the rest of the 5 foot muscles. This causes extension of the middle phalanx, and flexion of the proximal phalanx/ Distal interphalangeal joint

HAMMER TOES

A hammer toe is a toe that is flexed at the proximal interphalangeal joint, and extenstion of the metatarsophalangeal joint

There are 2 classifications of hammer toes: flexible and rigid

Flexible hammer toes are moveable, and can be straightened manually

Rigid hammer toes doesn’t have this ability; movement can be very painful

MORTON’S NEUROMA

This is an enlarged nerve that runs between the 1st and 2nd metatarsals, and the 3rd and 4th metatarsals

HALLUX VALGUS

This is commonly associated with bunions Normally occurs in the first metatarsal (big

toe) when it deviates inward

FUNCTIONAL

These injuries can be pre-disposed There are two stages: acute and chronic This could be related to the structure of the

injured area Fractures are the main type of Functional

injuries

FRACTURES

In a fracture, a bone is either cracked or broken

Many types of Fractures– simple, transverse, oblique, spiral, comminuted, segmental, avulsed, and impacted

The only treatment for these injuries is immoblization of the area and rest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbvx5DYS6tEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS8AdZNlKoIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcqVloclNNI

SIMPLE FRACTURE

A simple fracture is one that doesn’t break the skin; also known as a closed fracture.

There may be bruising and swelling, but no obvious signs of a fracture

TRANSVERSE FRACTURE

A fracture that occurs straight across the bone

OBLIQUE FRACTURE

Broken at an angle across the bone Usually a result of a sharp, angled blow to

the area

SPIRAL FRACTURE

A fracture where the bone has been twisted apart

Also known as a “torsion fracture” Can happen when a foot is planted, and the

leg twists

COMMINUTED FRACTURE

A fracture where the bone is completely crushed

This is a very hard thing to correct, because the bone is in many pieces

SEGMENTAL FRACTURE

A fracture where the bone is in many different pieces

There are multiple fractures on the same bone

AVULSED FRACTURE

An injury to the bone where a ligament or tendon attaches

When this occurs, the ligament or tendon pulls of a piece of the bone, resulting in a fracture.

IMPACTED FRACTURE

Also known as a “greenstick fracture” The bone “splinters” like a young green limb

from a tree or bush It doesn’t completely break

STRESS FRACTURES

These occur from over use of a boneMost common in repetative motion sports

(running, soccer, softball, baseball, etc)Occurs where the bone changes density or

shapeThe only way to treat this is rest and

immoblization

ANKLE SPRAINS