Foot and ankle injuries are among the most common setbacks athletes face — and one of the most undertreated. Whether you’re a competitive athlete or an active weekend warrior, Dr. Castelein understands the unique demands sports place on your feet and ankles. He takes a comprehensive approach to care: accurate diagnosis, targeted treatment, and a rehabilitation plan built around your specific sport, goals, and return-to-play timeline.
Ankle sprains are the most common lower limb injury in athletes, occurring when the ligaments supporting the ankle are stretched or torn — most often from the foot rolling inward. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty bearing weight. Dr. Castelein diagnoses sprains using in-office X-ray and assesses severity to determine the right course of care.
Mild to moderate sprains respond well to rest, ice, compression, and elevation, with gradual return to activity over days to weeks. More severe sprains involving torn ligaments may require bracing, immobilization, or surgical repair to fully restabilize the ankle and reduce the long-term risk of chronic instability and arthritis.
Achilles tendonitis develops from repetitive stress to the tendon — common in runners and jumpers — causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness. Left untreated, it can progress to a partial or complete rupture. Ruptures typically occur during explosive movements and result in sudden, severe pain and loss of function.
Dr. Castelein evaluates tendon injuries with a thorough exam and imaging, then develops a treatment plan ranging from conservative care — rest, ice, physical therapy, and bracing — to minimally invasive surgical repair for complete ruptures. His goal is always the fastest, safest return to full activity.
Shin splints are an overuse injury caused by a muscle imbalance between the smaller muscles along the front of the shin and the stronger, tighter muscles in the back of the leg. The result is pain and inflammation along the lower leg — ranging from a dull ache to sharp persistent pain. Runners, dancers, and high-impact athletes are most commonly affected.
Dr. Castelein diagnoses shin splints through clinical exam and history, with an in-office X-ray to rule out a stress fracture. Treatment is tailored to the individual’s anatomy, function, and sport-specific demands.
The peroneal tendons run along the outer ankle and play a key role in stabilizing the foot during activity. When inflamed, they cause pain, swelling, and stiffness on the outside of the ankle, along with difficulty bearing weight. Diagnosis involves physical exam and imaging — X-ray in-office and MRI through a local imaging center when needed.
Treatment starts conservatively with rest, ice, compression, elevation, physical therapy, and orthotics. Bracing may be added for more significant cases. When conservative care fails, minimally invasive surgery to repair or remove damaged tissue is available.
Two fractures commonly seen in athletes are Jones and Lisfranc fractures.
A Jones fracture involves a break at a specific, low-blood-supply area of the fifth metatarsal — the outer edge of the foot. It causes pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty bearing weight. Diagnosis uses X-ray, CT, or MRI. Treatment may involve immobilization or surgery depending on severity and the patient’s activity level.
A Lisfranc fracture involves broken or displaced bones in the midfoot, causing pain, swelling, instability, and difficulty bearing weight. These injuries can be subtle and are sometimes missed. Imaging confirms the diagnosis and guides treatment, which may range from immobilization to surgical realignment and stabilization of the arch.
Turf toe is a sprain or tear of the ligaments supporting the big toe joint, most common in sports involving jumping or quick directional changes. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. If the ligaments don’t heal properly, chronic instability and accelerated arthritis can develop.
Dr. Castelein diagnoses turf toe with physical exam and imaging. Treatment ranges from RICE protocol and orthotics for mild cases to arthroscopic surgery for more severe ligament damage. A personalized rehabilitation plan is built around getting each patient back to their sport as quickly and safely as possible.
Don’t let a foot or ankle injury sideline you longer than necessary. Book online or call us today.
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