Our Services / Sports Medicine

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine is a branch of podiatry that diagnoses, treats, and prevents activity-related injuries. By participating in sports medicine at Inland Podiatry Group, you can reduce the risk of injury, improve your physical performance, and live a more active lifestyle. 

What issues does sports medicine treat?

At Inland Podiatry Group, the team uses sports medicine to treat various issues that affect the feet and ankles, including:

• Sprains
• Strains
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Dislocations
• Hammertoes
• Bunions
• Ingrown toenails
• Flat foot

You might also benefit from sports medicine if you drop something heavy on your foot and experience a fracture. 

What does sports medicine involve?

At Inland Podiatry Group, no two sports medicine consultations are exactly alike. The team tailors each appointment based on your medical history, age, and needs.

Before making any recommendations for treatment, your provider reviews your health records and asks about your symptoms, including when they started, their severity, and if any activities make them better or worse. 

Next, your provider asks you to take off your shoes and socks and examines your feet, toes, and ankles. During the exam, they gently press on different parts of your foot to locate areas of warmth, tenderness, or swelling. If an exam doesn’t provide enough insight into your condition, the team might also order X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI.

After determining the cause of your discomfort, your provider develops a custom treatment plan that relieves the pain and provides long-term relief. 

How are sports injuries treated?

Treatment of sports injuries depends on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause. The team at Inland Podiatry Group typically recommends conservative, noninvasive treatments, including:

• Resting as much as possible
• Taking over-the-counter pain medicine
• Icing your foot
• Corticosteroid injections
• Custom orthotics
• Using heel pads or inserts
• Wearing more comfortable and supportive shoes

If these treatments don’t provide relief and your symptoms continue or worsen, surgery might be necessary. Inland Podiatry Group has an ambulatory surgical center on-site that offers both traditional open surgery and minimally invasive surgery.

To learn more about the benefits of sports medicine, make an appointment at Inland Podiatry Group by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today.