It's quite easy to injure your foot or ankle just by stepping on an uneven surface or falling awkwardly. If you love to play sports, it’s highly likely that you will experience a foot or ankle problem at some point. Choice Podiatry Associates, the preeminent podiatrists in Cincinnati, Ohio, will help you develop good foot care habits for common foot problems and ankle injuries. 

Here are a few typical ailments and suggestions for how to treat them before calling your podiatrist at Choice Podiatry Associates:

• Ankle Sprain: It's so easy to roll your ankle beyond its normal range of motion. If you notice swelling and pain, you may well have over-stretched a ligament. If you have a serious sprain, there may be actual tearing of the connective tissue. If you experience significant swelling that's resistant to NSAID medications, like Aspirin or Ibuprofen, you should schedule an appointment with a doctor at Choice Podiatry Associates to ensure that you won't need more extensive treatment.
• Stress Fractures: A stress fracture is a small fissure in the bone of your foot or ankle. They often occur when you make a significant change in your workout routine or typical daily activity level. You will likely notice pain, swelling and the presence of bruising. A doctor from Choice Podiatry Associates will be able to help you find relief from your symptoms and take preventative measures to reduce your risk for re-injury.
• Turf Toe: You might associate “turf toe” exclusively with football, but you can sprain the major joint of your big toe in all kinds of athletic activities. You can mildly stretch the soft tissue, but you can actually tear that tissue or even completely dislocate the joint. As always, in cases of a serious injury that doesn't heal well on its own, you need to see a doctor for proper diagnostics and treatment. If a ligament is dislocated from the bone, you may need to have surgery.

If you experience pain, swelling or bruising, you should call the foot doctor. Only a doctor can accurately determine exactly how severe your injury is. Until your appointment with Choice Podiatry Associates, however, you should practice RICE:

• Rest your foot or ankle.
• Ice the affected area immediately.
• Compress the foot or ankle with bandages to immobilize and support the injured body part.
• Elevate your foot or ankle above your heart to reduce swelling.

Not only will the doctors at Choice Podiatry Associates treat your common foot and ankle injuries, they are also your go-to source for diabetic foot care, children's foot care and foot surgery. Call (513) 574-2424 today to request an appointment.