Many people may have witnessed the terrifying fracture that occurred during the 2016 Rio Olympics to French gymnast Samir Ait Said. It was no doubt a traumatic and painful experience for him and demonstrates the amount of force and strength that goes into an Olympic event. However, you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to experience fractures, and they are one of the many common injuries podiatry practices like Your Next Step sees in their patients.
The amount of force applied to the bone can affect how it breaks:
- Acute fractures are complete or partial breaks in the bone that usually result from excessive force. They can result in pain, swelling, bruising, and the inability to bear weight.
- Stable – the ends of the fractured bones are barely out of place
- Compound – also called “open” fractures, the skin is broken, which is the most serious type since it can lead to infections.
- Transverse – bone is fractured horizontally
- Oblique – bone is fractured diagonally
- Comminuted – bone is shattered into several pieces
- Stress fractures are small cracks in the bones that often result from repeated overuse rather than a single traumatic incident. Changing workout surfaces, poor bone density, and changing intensity of workouts are common causes. They are often seen in activities with repetitive motions like running, and cause pain, swelling, and bruising.
No matter what type of fracture you sustain, getting professional help from a foot care specialist is vital in a successful recovery. At Your Next Step, located in Philadelphia, we use advanced technologies to diagnose and treat fractures. Our team of podiatrists Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen may recommend any of the following for treating fractures:
- Resting
- Icing
- Casting
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
Your Next Step also treats podiatric conditions like heel pain, sports injuries, fungal infections, diabetic foot problems and toe deformities, so our committed team of podiatrists and staff can help you find relief from pain and discomfort! Please contact us to schedule an appointment at any of our offices in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown.