The foot and ankle are prone to trauma, especially in athletes who engage in high-intensity sports which exert pressure on the feet. Mild foot and ankle trauma may result in acute pain that heals within a short time or chronic pain which persists over time. However, severe Scottsdale foot and ankle trauma might result in a complete ligament tear on the ankle and foot pain. With these remedies, you can reduce mild foot and ankle trauma, but you should see a podiatrist if your foot and ankle health does not improve.
Resting
Foot and ankle trauma might result in acute pain, and you should rest to allow the foot to deal with injuries. However, you should move the ankle joint in a clockwise and anticlockwise direction after the pain subsides as it improves the range of motion on the joint. You should seek medical attention if the trauma causes a limited range of motion in the ankle joint and shooting pain through the foot shaft. The acute pain and limited motion range indicate severe injuries to the leg’s tendons, ligaments, and bones.
Elevation
You can elevate the foot as it reduces fluid accumulation on the injury site, thus easing pain and swelling. The foot should be in a higher position than the heart to improve blood flow, prevent swelling and reduce chronic pain. Elevation reduces inflammation as it reduces fluid retention, thus promoting healing and repair of the ankle joint.
Heat
Heat plays an important role when dealing with foot and ankle trauma as it increases blood supply to the foot and promotes toxin removal. The heat may relax tight muscles, ease pain and release tension leading to efficient healing. On the other hand, cold therapy will work on the foot soon after the injury as it numbs the injury site reducing inflammation and swelling, which slows healing. Once the inflammation subsides, you can opt for heat treatment and alternate it with cold therapy for effective healing.
Stretching
Foot and ankle trauma weakens the muscles and structures around it, especially if these tissues are weak due to disuse. You can strengthen the tissues with exercises and promote better blood flow to the foot. You can start with light exercises by gently moving the feet in all directions thrice a day, walking, and jogging. However, a physical therapist will help improve foot and ankle health by developing exercise routines promoting ankle healing.
Compression
Sometimes the foot and ankle trauma does not improve by itself, and the pain lingers for some time. Thus you will use compression stockings or an elastic band to hold the knee and ankle joints together and prevent swelling. The compression band will prevent unnecessary movements of these joints leading to fast healing. However, you may need further interventions if your ligaments are torn during a traumatic accident. You will correct the torn ligaments with casts and braces and, in rare cases, undergo surgery.
Although you would think about medical interventions when you develop foot and ankle trauma, home remedies might sometimes alleviate the injuries. However, home remedies work only for acute trauma. You should alleviate the feet, apply heat and cold therapy, compress the joints, and rest to prevent inflammation, pain, and swelling. However, a doctor will deal with foot and ankle trauma if it does not improve with these home remedies.
