Dr. Jung shares insights on what to expect most in primary care settings in this interview.
Article: How to Handle Common Foot and Ankle Injuries (medcentral.com)
The prevalence of foot and ankle issues is substantial and second only to knee problems when it comes to healthcare visits for musculoskeletal injuries, according to estimates published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. Such injuries are particularly notable in those over age 55 as older adults may lose some functional ability as a result of aging.
Orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, Kenneth Jung, MD, provides recommendations on what to look for. See a quick decision guide on treatment below.
What are the most common foot and ankle injuries seen in primary care settings?
Dr. Jung: This can be a range of issues, but the most likely are ankle sprains and fractures in the foot or ankle. With people who are athletic, you’re also probably going to see Achilles tendon ruptures. For people of any age and level of physical activity, you’ll have twisted ankles or rolled ankles because these can happen with simple, everyday motions like stepping off a curb incorrectly. You can even roll your ankle getting out of bed.
These are injuries that happen suddenly, due to an event. You may also have some foot and ankle issues related to a chronic condition. For example, people can get foot or ankle pain with arthritis even when they’re on anti-inflammatory medication. You can also see foot issues with type 2 diabetes if the condition isn’t being well controlled.
Are there any foot and ankle injuries that seem to be on the rise?
Dr. Jung: Pickleball is certainly leading the way when it comes to more injuries, especially because many players are older adults who haven’t been physically active up until that point. We see that with other sports, like tennis, as well. Whenever people take up a new activity but they don’t progress into it gradually, they can have higher risk of injury.
