A quarterly newsletter published by New
Mexico Senior Olympics, Inc.
| New Mexico Senior Olympics, Inc. | April 2003 |
Foot and Ankle Injuries—Information from the American Podiatric Medical Association
Taking Care of Your Feet
OUCH!
What to do for Immediate Treatment
F
oot and ankle emergencies happen every day. Broken bones, dislocations, sprains, contusions, infections, and other serious injuries can occur at any time. Early attention is vitally important. Whenever you sustain a foot or ankle injury, you should seek immediate treatment from a podiatric physician.First Aid Steps Before Going to the Doctor
If an injury does occur, the steps you can take to help yourself until you can reach your physician are easy to remember if you can recall the word "RICE".
1.
Rest. Cut back on your activity, and get off your feet if you can.2. Ice. Gently place a plastic bag of ice, or ice wrapped in a towel, on the injured area in a 20-minuteon, 40-minute-off cycle.
3.
Compression. Lightly wrap an ace bandage around the area, taking care not to pull it too tight.4.
Elevation. Sit in a position that you can elevate the foot higher than the waist, to reduce swelling and pain.5.
Switch to a soft shoe or slipper.6.
For bleeding cuts, cleanse well, apply pressure with gauze or towel, and cover with a clean dressing.7.
Leave blisters unopened if they are not painful or swollen.8.
Foreign materials such as splinters and sand can be removed with a sterile instrument. A deep foreign object such as broken glass must be removed professionally.9.
Treatment for an abrasion is similar to that of a burn. Cleansing is important to remove all foreign particles. Sterile bandages should be applied along with an antibiotic cream.Myths: Beware!
1. "It can’t be broken because I can move it."
False.
This widespread idea has kept many fractures from receiving proper treatment. The truth is you can walk with certain types of fractures.2. "If you break a toe, immediate care is not necessary."
False.
A toe fracture needs prompt attention. Many patients develop post-fracture deformity of a toe, which in turn results in a painfully deformed toe with a painful corn-if a physician has not properly realigned and set the fracture.3. "If you have a foot or ankle injury, soak it in hot water immediately."
False.
Don’t use heat or hot water if you suspect a dislocation, sprain, or fracture. Heat promotes blood flow, causing greater swelling. An ice bag will reduce both the pain and the swelling; after seeing a doctor, warm compresses may be applied.4. "Applying an elastic bandage to a severely sprained ankle is adequate treatment."
False.
Ankle sprains may often mean torn or overstretched ligaments and they should receive immediate care.5. "The terms ‘fracture,’ ‘break,’ and ‘crack’ are all different."
False.
All those words are proper descriptions of a broken bone.Prevention
1.
Wear the correct shoes for any event. Walking shoes should provide more comfort and better balance.2.
Wear hiking shoes or boots in rough terrain. These provide ankle support.3.
Different sports activities call for specific footwear to protect feet and ankles.4.
Wear safety shoes with reinforced steel toes if you’re in an occupation which threatens foot safety.5.
Always wear hard-top shoes when operating a lawn mower or other grass-cutting equipment. NEVER WEAR SANDALS OR MOW THE LAWN BAREFOOT!6.
Don’t walk barefoot on paved streets or sidewalks.7. Watch out for slippery floors at home or at work. Clean up obvious dangerous spills immediately.
8.
If you get up at night, turn on a light. Many fractured toes and other foot injuries occur while attempting to find your way in the dark. And remember: For injury treatment "RICE" is the first step.|
Remember: 1. Rest |