How To Care For Your Ankle Injury

The following can help you make a determination as to where you should head for foot or ankle care, but if you are at all concerned about the best type of treatment for your injury, head to a medical professional who can view your foot in person. They will be able to provide a much better treatment course than this general guide can provide. With that said, here are some factors you’ll want to assess when determining where to head for foot or ankle care:

Pain – A lot of injuries, even mild ones, can be pretty painful during the injury and in the immediate aftermath. If pain remains intense for minutes or hours, you’ll likely want to have it examined in the emergency room or at urgent care. If pain subsides a little or becomes much more tolerable, you can probably skip the emergency room visit and use your best judgment as to whether you need to head in at all.

Deformity – If there is a significant visible deformity with the foot, you’ll likely want to head to an emergency department, especially if it’s coupled with other symptoms on this list. If the foot looks fine from the outside, that still doesn’t mean you don’t need emergency care, but you may have a better chance of managing the issue with an urgent care visit or on your own.

Weightbearing – If you can’t bear any weight on the foot, an emergency room visit is likely the way to go. If you can walk with some discomfort, especially if it begins to get a little easier to walk on the foot after a few minutes or hours, you can likely skip the ER and manage the injury on your own or by eventually getting to an urgent care office.

Open Wound – Significant open wounds or open fractures should be addressed by medical professional, typically in an emergency room setting. Smaller cuts can be managed on your own, unless it’s clear that you’ll need stitches.

There’s no perfect playbook for always knowing the best route for care, but you know your body better than anyone. If you’re at all concerned with your foot or ankle injury, head in for care. For immediate attention, an emergency room is best, but for less pressing injuries, an urgent care visit can save you a little bit of money and provide you with the right level of care.

For more information, or for answers to any questions you have, click here to connect with Dr. Silverman.

The post Ankle Injuries – Emergency Room, Urgent Care Or Home Treatment? appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

Exercising During The Travel Season

We want you to still be able to get your workout in even when you’re on the road, but it won’t always be easy. However, if you keep these tips in mind, we’re confident that your ankles, feet and whole body will be able to find a way to stay active on the road.

1. Ditch The Equipment – You may have to get a little creative when it comes to your workout routine if you don’t have access to your normal equipment. Consider developing an equipment-free workout routine that involves exercises like wall sits, planks, squats and lunges so that you can exercise anywhere with just a few feet of space.

2. Pack Your Own Gear – You probably can’t fit your bench press bar and your weights in your travel bag, but there are small pieces of workout equipment that you can take with you on the road to aid in training and recovery. Resistance bands, jump ropes, foam rollers and theraguns are all small pieces of equipment that can make it much easier for you to follow through with a workout or promote tissue recovery after a hard day on the road.

3. Focus On Your Recovery – Part of keeping your training on track while you’re on the road is helping your body recover after a long day of travel and activity. Give your body the fuel it needs to recharge and repair itself. Eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water and make it a point to try and get at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep each night so that your body is ready to attack the next day.

4. Learn About Local Facilities – It’s also easier to keep your training on track if you do a little research about facilities in the area where you’re staying. Perhaps there is a gym nearby, or the hotel you’re staying at has a fitness center that’s open certain hours of the day. Do a Google search for nearby gyms or facilities where you can perform your fitness routine.

5. Pack The Right Shoes – Finally, make sure that you pack extra shoes for your travels so that you can get your feet out of a tight track shoe or a less-supportive baseball cleat when you’re done with your activity. Pack the right shoes for your travel activities and try to get your feet in a comfortable and supportive shoe if you’ll be on your feet for an extended period. This helps to limit the stress and strain on your feet when they are already likely being stressed quite a bit by your travel schedule.

The post Foot And Ankle Training Tips For The Traveling Athlete appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.