Last week, Salma Hayek appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman where she discussed amongst other topics, her reoccurring ankle problems.  Hayek expressed that since her first ankle injury, she has continued to reinjure her ankle.   Reoccurring ankle injury is especially a concern in ankle sprains, where ankle ligaments undergo some sort of damage.  The most frequently sprained ankle ligaments are those on the lateral, or outer aspect, of the ankle namely the anterior talofibular ligament, the posterior talofibular ligament, and the calcaneofibular ligament.  These ligaments are most commonly injured when inverting the foot. 

There are three grades of ankle sprains increasing in severity from an intact ligament in Grade I to a partially torn ligament in Grade II to Grade III sprains in which ligaments are completely torn.  Diagnosis of ankle sprains may include a few different approaches.  The anterior drawer ankle test is a physical exam performed to test the laxity of the ligaments.  In this test the foot is plantarflexed, or pushed downward from the leg and the examiner pulls the heel away from the body.  Ankle sprains can also be diagnosed radiographically.

Once diagnosed, the next step is rehabilitation, although surgery may be necessary if ligaments are completely torn.  Rehab begins with focus on edema and pain through rest, ice, compression, and elevation.   Rehabilitation then continues on for a couple of weeks focusing on regaining strength, range of motion, and proprioception.  This is accomplished through exercise, which may be partial weight bearing or weight bearing.   The last phase of rehab which can last weeks to months aims to restore complete function through bracing or taping and possibly orthoses. 

Ankle sprains are something we commonly see at Atlantic Foot and Ankle Associates in Port Orange.  Although the ankle may start to feel better after a couple of days, we recommend complete rehabilitation of ankle sprains to regain functionality and prevent reoccurrence.   This is especially crucial as the most common cause of an ankle sprain is a previous ankle sprain. 

By Dr. Sona Ramdath Jr.

Watching Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies fall and grab his leg on the last play of the NLDS was painful.  My initial thought was… oh no, not his Achilles!  As Ryan related during one of his post-game interviews, “he felt as if his bat had hit him on the back of his leg”, which was sufficient testament to a torn Achilles.  During my training progression from student, to resident, to fellow, and now ultimately private practice at Atlantic Foot and Ankle Associates, I have been exposed to similar clinical presentation in both the young athlete to the weekend warrior.

Typically we are able to primarily repair the tendon after the swelling has resolved and begin the rehabilitation program shortly thereafter.  Dr.  Amol  Saxena recently reported in a pilot study that an athlete was able to return to activity (RTA) after being able to run for 10 minutes at 85% of their body weight on the “anti-gravity” Alter-G treadmill, able to complete 5 sets of 25 single leg heel raises, post-op calf girth of 0.5 cm and range of motion within 5 degrees of the contralateral leg.  The expectation is that he should be able to return to the sport in approximately six to nine months.  But at what point will he actually return to his dominant self?  As Ryan’s Achilles went ‘pop’, so too did the Phillies’ chance at a World Series this year.

Ryan’s injury brings to mind another high profile athlete who sustained an Achilles rupture, David Beckham.  Untouched and with no surrounding players or actual injury, David tore his Achilles.  His return to his dominant form is well documented after his injury but he was unable to participate in the 2010 World Cup as a result.  He was, however, able to return just short of 6 months after his injury, so Ryan Howard has some precedence for a speedy recovery.   If you have suffered from a sports injury and need to recover quickly, do not hesitate to make an appointment at our Orange City office or any our other three locations.  Our goal is to get you back in the game!

By Dr. Sona Ramdath Jr.

(ORANGE CITY, FL 8/2/2011)  Atlantic Podiatry Associates announced today that foot and ankle specialist, Sona Ramdath Jr., will be practicing at their Orange City, FL office.  Dr. Ramdath specializes in the surgical and non-surgical treatments of the foot and ankle, ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics.  Dr. Ramdath is a board-qualified foot and ankle surgeon and Associate Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Dr. Ramdath provides care including conditions for the more common foot problems such as general foot & ankle pain, athletes foot, bunions, plantar warts, heel pain, and ingrown toenails to the more serious conditions like sports injuries, foot trauma, diabetes, arthritis, ulcerations, and foot and ankle deformities. 

Atlantic Podiatry Associates is also proud to provide a wealth of patient education materials online at www.atlanticpodiatry.com.  The website offers weekly blogs that are intended to continually educate people about common foot and ankle problems and preventative steps to take to avoid occurrence or recurrence.   If you or a loved one is suffering from foot or ankle pain and would like to visit the Orange City office, please call (386) 775-2281.  Appointments can also be scheduled online or by contacting one of the other three office locations listed on the website.