Sports and other types of physical activity are great for your brain, heart, and overall health. Unfortunately, they can also wreak havoc on your feet, ankles, and lower legs, increasing your risk of podiatric injury. In fact, of the more than 8 million sports and recreation injuries reported in the United States each year, nearly half affect the lower extremity.
Don’t let a sports injury interrupt your athletic progress and leave you sitting on the sidelines. Get the exceptional podiatry care you need to get back in the game or back out on the trails.
Highly Skilled Podiatry Care That Lets You Skip the Emergency Room and Go Straight to a Specialist
Welcome to Yavapai Foot and Ankle Center, a premier podiatry practice serving the Prescott-Quad Cities area. Our experienced podiatrist, Dr. John (Todd) Cox, DPM, treats athletes and athletically inclined patients ages four and up.
If you suffered a podiatric sports or recreation injury, our team can provide the all-encompassing care you need to recover and return to your favorite activities. We even offer same-day emergency appointments that let you skip the long wait, high costs, and uncertainty of an ER visit and see a talented specialist. Here’s what you should know.
Causes and Risk Factors for Sports Injuries
General exercise, such as running or aerobics, is the most common source of injury, followed by some of the Quad Cities' most popular sports and recreational activities, such as:
- Hiking
- Mountain climbing
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Golf
- Tennis
- Pickleball
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Football
While you might assume podiatric sports injuries are usually caused by acute trauma, such as landing wrong and twisting your ankle after going for a layup, studies show that most are due to repetitive movements and overuse. People who skip warm-ups or increase the duration or intensity of their physical activity too quickly face an increased risk of exercise- and recreation-related foot, ankle, and lower leg injuries.
Conditions We Treat
We compassionately and capably treat all lower extremity injuries arising from sports, fitness, and recreational activities. Some of the most common sports injuries we address include:
- Strains and sprains
- Stress fractures
- Broken bones
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Turf toe
- Shin splints
- Bursitis
- ACL injuries
- Bone spurs
- Sever’s disease and other growth plate injuries (in pediatric patients)
Providing Comprehensive and Conscientious Medical and Surgical Care for Podiatric Sports Injuries
Don’t see your sports injury or issue listed above? Not to worry, as a full-spectrum podiatric practice, we treat all injuries to the feet, ankles, and lower legs. Additionally, our onsite screenings and diagnostic testing allow for accurate diagnoses and immediate treatment.
Dr. Cox utilizes conservative methods—such as activity modification, physical therapy, immobilization, or custom orthotics—whenever possible to reduce patient risks and discomfort. However, some sports and fitness injuries require a prompt surgical approach. Rest assured, we have the knowledge, training, and skill to perform various advanced procedures according to your needs.
Guiding Your Recovery Step-by-Step
Bouncing back from a sports injury can be challenging. Fortunately, our team is here to support you every step of the way, from your initial appointment to the conclusion of treatment. We take the time to understand your sports or fitness goals and work with you to develop medically safe treatment and recovery plans to help you advance and achieve them.
Your Sports Injury Prevention Specialists
Our professional relationship with sports injuries patients doesn’t have to end when treatment is over. We help athletes and active individuals learn safer movement techniques to reduce the risk of future injury. Many health- and fitness-minded patients include us among the practitioners they see regularly.
Partner With Us for Improved Podiatric Health
At Yavapai Foot and Ankle Center, we’re passionate about helping patients restore and maintain healthy feet, ankles, and lower legs. If you or a family member just suffered an acute sports injury or are nursing an overuse injury that hasn’t improved with rest and home care, we can help. Complete the contact form or call 928-445-9298 to ask about an urgent appointment.