Ligament strain is one of the most common foot problems that many people experience, especially athletes and physically active people. Luckily, it is both treatable and preventable. Learn what causes ligament strain and how to treat or prevent it in this article. Get a consultation with the best Podiatrists in Brooklyn.
Causes & Risk Factors
Ligament strain primarily develops due to repetitive activity that stresses the tendons in your foot. However, sometimes sudden movements, such as overstretching the tendon, over-rotating your ankle, or using improper technique while running, jumping, or playing sports, cause this.
Other causes of ligament strain are:
- Abnormal foot structure: If you are born with abnormal foot structure, like flat feet or high arches, it increases the stress on the ligament naturally.
- Trauma: If there’s an injury or accident to the ligament, like a sprain.
- Medical conditions: If you get an infection in the ankle or foot, the chances of getting ligament strain are high. Some other medical conditions develop as you age, like rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
Ligament strain can occur to anyone, but it’s more common in athletes or very active individuals who overuse their tendons. You also develop this problem if you:
- Are overweight.
- Don’t stretch before and after a vigorous workout.
- Have a certain health condition like diabetes.
- Had previous tendon injuries.
- Have tight tendons or muscles in the legs.
- Use tobacco products or smoke.
- Are over 40.
- Wear worn-out shoes that don’t support the feet; it’s more likely to increase the risk of ligament strain in the foot or ankle.
Diagnosis
To diagnose ligament strain, your doctor will perform a physical exam to review your symptoms and check your medical history. They may assess certain parts of the foot, ankle, or calf to check the areas for swelling and tenderness. They may ask you to perform certain movements to assess your range of motion, strength, and severity of the pain.
If your doctor suspects that you may have a foot fracture or a torn tendon, they may recommend imaging exams like X-ray, MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound. For most cases, ultrasound is commonly recommended to see the type of injury or degenerative changes that are causing the pain.
Treatment & Prevention
The treatment for ligament strain depends on the underlying cause, the severity of your symptoms, and your overall health. Generally, for ligament strain, resting the foot and keeping weight off of it is recommended, with heating and cooling therapy to manage the pain and swelling. To manage the pain, your doctor may prescribe over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen. Sometimes, doctors recommend orthotics, or soft cast, or a boot to lower pain by supporting your foot during physical activity by taking off the load from the foot to allow healing.
If pain doesn’t improve or is severe and lasts for a long time, your doctor may refer you to a physiotherapist who teaches you some gentle exercises to improve your muscle and bone strength and range of motion. Other than that, your doctor may prescribe steroid injections to provide short-term pain relief in combination with exercises. Or surgery to remove damaged tissue or repair a ruptured tendon.
While you can’t avoid ligament strain completely, some steps can be taken to lower the risk of this foot problem, including:
- Warm up before exercising and stretch afterwards.
- Do not push yourself through pain and use pain as a guide to take a break.
- Wear supportive shoes or insoles for your physical activity, recommended by your doctor.
- Quit smoking or using tobacco products, if you do.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
- Use proper technique when playing sports or exercising.
- Rest between repetitive workouts.
- Don’t start a new physical activity or sport without some training or practice.
- Gradually increase the intensity of physical activity.
Ligament strain in the foot occurs from repetitive movement that puts stress on the tendons and ligaments. Mostly, it is common in sports athletes and older people who develop medical conditions like arthritis or gout. Fortunately, it is treatable depending on the underlying cause or severity. Just notice your symptoms and seek medical help. In most cases, you can prevent this foot problem by following the above-mentioned tips to prevent ligament strain to keep your ligaments healthy in the long run.
For leg strain or foot issues, you can consult with our foot specialist in Brooklyn for professional diagnosis and treatment. Doral Health & Wellness employs Podiatrists with extensive education and expertise. Trauma to the tendons, muscles, and bones of the foot is quite common. It’s not a good idea to put off seeing Foot Doctor Brooklyn until you are in a lot of pain. Our address is 1797 Pitkin Avenue, New York, NY 11212. To make an appointment, please call +1-718-367-2555 or send an email toinfo@doralhw.org.
