Foot and ankle emergencies happen every day. Broken bones, dislocations, sprains, contusions, infections and other serious injuries – can occur at any time. The following are the most common:
Sprains involve injury to ligaments, whereas strains involve injury to muscles. Ankle sprains and strains usually occur when the foot turns inward, causing swelling and pain on the outside of the ankle.
Shin splints refer to pain at the front of the lower leg bone that is caused by muscle or tendon inflammation. The problem is usually caused by a muscle imbalance between opposing muscle groups in the leg.
A stress fracture in an incomplete crack in the bone caused by overuse or strain of the foot. A foot that is not structurally sound is prone to developing stress fractures. Even a normal foot can easily develop a stress fracture from repetitive use or a sudden increased activity level. Other causes include medical conditions such as osteoporosis and medications such as steroids. Symptoms may include pain, redness, bruising and swelling.
Break, fracture, crack – Fracture, break and crack are different ways of describing a broken bone
Author: tammy gracen