Different Types of Ankle Sprains and How a Podiatrist Can Help You

Our ankles are designed to take a lot of stress from standing, walking, and running, to going up and down stairs constantly. That makes our ankles very vulnerable to injuries, the most common of which is the well-known sprained ankle. An ankle sprain is a common injury that occurs when the ankle is twisted or turned in (inverted). It can range from mild to severe, depending on how much damage that has been caused to the ligaments.

Types of Ankle Sprains

There are two types of sprains: 1) Inversion Ankle Sprains and 2) Eversion Ankle Sprains.

The inversion ankle sprain is the most common type of sprain experienced by Singaporean athletes. It occurs when your foot is twisted inward and stretches the outer ligaments.

The eversion ankle sprain occurs when your foot is twisted outwards and the inner ligament is stretched, resulting in pain.

Ankle sprains are also graded into 3 categories: Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3. (I) In Grade 1, there is very slight tear of ligament fibers and swelling in the ankle. (II) In Grade 2, there occurs partial tear of the ligaments with swelling, pain, instability and decrease in range of motion. (III) When there is complete rupture of ligament, it falls under Grade 3 of ankle sprain. The patient can experience significant swelling, pain, instability and an inability by the ankle to bear weight.

Besides pain and lateral ligament injuries, there may be more serious injuries behind sprained ankles. According to a survey conducted by the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore, it has been found that 7 in 10 patients surveyed were suffering from injuries such as swollen bones, inner ligament injury, cartilage injuries and bone marrow edema after they sprained their ankle. So, it is important for patients to get proper diagnosis and treatment after any ankle related injury.

Treatment for Ankle Sprain

Since ankle sprains are common in Singapore, people often think that all that is required is rest to let it heal naturally and that they do not need to seek professional help. However, people who do not seek proper treatment for a sprained ankle can experience severe pain, instability and stiffness, which can remain for months or even years after the injury occurred.

A good podiatrist in Singapore can help you effectively rehabilitate your sprained ankle and prevent recurrence. Podiatrists are experts in the assessment and diagnosis of ankle sprains. When you visit a physio clinic in Singapore, you will be asked to go for an X-ray, CT scan or MRI to determine the severity of the injury.

Depending on the extent of the ankle sprain, a podiatrist in Singapore may use a variety of therapies and treatments to help you recover, such as cold therapy, electrotherapy and a dynamic rehabilitation programme.

If you happen to sprain your ankle, then consider visiting a physio clinic in Singapore. Get your ankle examined by an expert podiatrist for undergoing a proper treatment plan depending on your injury level. An experienced podiatrist in Singapore will not only help you alleviate your ankle pain and free movement of the extremity but will also suggest post-injury rehabilitation exercises that can significantly decrease the risk of re-injury. 

Physiotherapy Vs Sports Therapy: Which is Better Suited for Treating Sports Injuries?

Sports injuries are quite common in Singapore as Singaporeans are avid sports enthusiasts who engage in various forms of sports activities. Apart from professional sports, they also engage in sports for leisure and maintaining fitness.

One can find a reputed physio clinic in Singapore that helps in treating the sports injuries but quite often people get confused between physiotherapy and sports physiotherapy. The two may appear to be similar and can often share many similarities. In fact, they overlap their treatment programs which lead to confusion in patients about which treatment is more suitable for them.

Here’s a look at the key differences between physiotherapy and sports therapy:

1. Knowledge-base

A physiotherapist has a broader knowledge base as compared to a sports therapist which enables them to treat various ailments, neurological, and respiratory issues. On the other hand, sports therapists can only treat sports-related injuries.

2. Exposure

The exposure of sports therapists is limited compared to that of Singapore physio practitioners as they usually handle cases from the sports arena which makes them suitable for preventing the sports injuries with help of specific strength programs.

3. Focus

The focus of physiotherapy is to enable the patient to cope with their day-to-day life and make them feel comfortable in movement.

On the other hand, the sports therapy focuses on whether the patient has returned to the required level of physical fitness to return to their sports activity.

4. Range

The sports therapists mainly focus on musculoskeletal rehabilitation as they have a sports-related background. This makes them the best choice for patients who are looking to return to exercise while the physiotherapy focuses on rehabilitation which benefits the body movements in daily routine. The Singapore physio practitioner can treat a wide range of patients, even the ones suffering from complex or multiple conditions.

However, one can make a straight choice between the two as many physiotherapists specialize in sports injuries and many sports therapists specialize in rehabilitation as well. We recommend choosing a practitioner based on your individual requirement and kind of injury you have met with.

Explore web for more information on the role and significance of physio clinic in Singapore and some handy tips to find a reliable physiotherapy centre that can help you in treating all your sports injuries.

Top Five Key Points to Avoid Sports Injuries and How to Manage Them

Whether you are a part of the national team or you play sports just for fitness, being sidelined because of a sports injury can be your worst nightmare. It forces you to stay away from your game which will hamper your form as well as your fitness.

Singaporeans are fitness enthusiasts and they love to stay fit and healthy. They take every possible measure to ensure their fitness and movability. Experiencing injuries on the game field is normal but taking a few precautions and following some simple rules can help you in enjoying your game and greatly reducing your chances of being injured.

The rate of injuries can easily be reduced by taking the correct preventive actions. Here’s a look at top five rules to avoid a sports injury:

1. Ensure a proper physical form

If you think playing occasionally in a game is enough to keep you in shape, you are mistaken! You need a regular practice throughout the week and sufficient training for any sport. One of the safest ways of avoiding injuries is to practice sport-specific conditioning exercises. In the case that you do suffer an injury while practicing or playing, immediately head towards a physio clinic in Singapore for getting appropriate treatment.

2. Abide by the rules

The rules have been designed in a way to keep you safe. It is important to know these rules and insist on the enforcement made by a neutral party.

3. Appropriate gear and equipment 

If you want to avoid a visit to the physio clinic in Singapore, always wear the proper protective equipment, such as pads, helmets, mouth guards, and gloves. Protective equipment should fit well to keep your hands, eyes, head, hands, and teeth safe.

4. Ample rest

It is important to always have enough rest between training sessions. Getting enough rest and sleep for your muscles to recuperate and recover from each training session is often undervalued by athletes. While it might feel better to train for days consecutively, it is often better for your muscles to be allowed to rest, allowing for more peak training performance each time. This is even more important prior to matches to allow for maximal effort.

5.  Warm-up before game or practice 

A warm-up is essential before the practice or match as warm muscles are less prone to injuries. You should never ignore sharp pains, as the pain could be indicative of an injury. In the case of severe pain or injuries, always consult a podiatrist in Singapore who can study, diagnose, and suggest a medical treatment or surgery for foot or ankle injury.

Explore the web to find more information on top podiatrist in Singapore for sports injury and get to know essential tips that can help in reducing the impact of unfortunate events at playfield. 

How Can a Podiatrist Help in Relieving Foot Pain?

Podiatrists are health professionals who specialize in treating the conditions related to lower legs, feet, and ankle. They are trained to diagnose, prevent, treat and rehabilitate abnormal conditions affecting feet and lower limbs. Podiatrists also help in treating routine foot issues such as thickened nails, ingrown nails, and fungal infection in nails along with corns, and calluses. In a nutshell, their role is to treat a wide array of foot injuries, defects, and infections. They also treat the foot conditions which are caused by other health disorders like oedema and diabetes.

Role and Responsibility of a Podiatrist

- The podiatrist is responsible for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of abnormalities, injuries or other diseases of the lower limb across individuals of all ages.

- They counsel and treat the high-risk patients who suffer from the risk of amputation.

- Podiatrist uses therapeutic techniques for treatment of foot issues. If required, they even opt for surgical techniques.

- If required, Podiatrist also prescribes orthotics or other aid which helps in mobility.

- They educate the patients and keep them informed about the issues related to foot health.

Several other foot deformities or birth defects which lead to abnormal posture are also treated by podiatrist in Singapore. There are certain health conditions like diabetic neuropathy whose symptoms appear in feet. The podiatrist analyzes them and refers the patient to relevant specialist or physicians.

Podiatry and Its Specialities 

Podiatry has many sub-specialties. Podiatric sports medicine specialises in treating ankle and foot injuries related to sports while paediatric care podiatrists treat kids. Then there are podiatrists who specialize in advanced surgical techniques who reconstruct ankle and foot after the injury. The difference from physiotherapist arises in their smaller scope of work on the body compared to a physiotherapist. In fact, as a part of their treatment plan, they might recommend physiotherapy to patients for quick recovery and healing.

If you are suffering from any foot ailments, then you must see a good foot doctor in Singapore for proper diagnosis and treatment. You can visit any multi-specialty clinic or nearby physiotherapy centres to find a podiatrist. Many online portals also offer details of physicians, podiatrists, and physiotherapists to help you in getting connected with reliable medical experts. It is recommended to read the reviews and check ratings carefully before you book an appointment. 

HealthCare Support Guide: Physical Therapist Vs Physiotherapist

Choosing the right medical support can be exceedingly important. It not only helps in preventing any further damage to your current medical situation but can also contribute towards a speedy recovery. Physical therapist and physiotherapist sounds very similar, but there are differences in the two medical support types. It might be surprising to know that around 80 % of world population is unaware of the difference between the two. Both therapists share similar goals, but their way of treatment is different.  Since both have different educational requirements and medical support plans, read the sections below to know everything about them:

What is Physical Therapy?

A Physical Therapist is a highly educated and licensed health care professional who helps patients to deal with and reduce pain. These practitioners reinstate mobility, in most of the cases, without expensive surgery, long term use of prescribed medicines and side effects. They teach patients how to manage their conditions so that they can achieve a long term health benefits. Using treatments and techniques, the physical therapists examine each patient and develop a plan to promote the ability to reduce pain, restore body function and prevent disability. The physical therapists help patients to attain optimal fitness and wellness regimes and encourage them for a healthier and more active lifestyle.

The professionals take care of their patients in a number of sittings at a physical therapy clinic, hospitals, private practices, home health agencies and many other medical institutions. Most of the medical practitioners are in private practice, though some do prefer a small setup using their own homes for private space.

What is Physiotherapy?

People around the world are perhaps more aware of the term ‘Physiotherapist’ than the physical therapist. A  Physiotherapist gives physical therapy to their patients to help them manage medical conditions like joint pains, movement problems, sprains, sports injuries, and others. The medical help is offered through manual therapy, electrotherapy, exercise therapy and various other physical therapies. Nowadays, the physiotherapy clinics and special medical help centers available to offer immediate medical support and progressive solutions for musculoskeletal pain, foot pain, joint pains, etc.

The modern physiotherapy clinic is well versed with all the modern and advanced facilities to cater the ever-growing needs of the patients. These therapies are either suggested by medical practitioners or are advised by special surgeons to ensure speedy recovery of the injury or to get immediate relief from constant pains.
 
Explore the web to know more about the physical therapy and physiotherapy support solutions and choose the right one for your injury to recover speedily.

Podiatry to the Rescue of Sportsmen

While sports has a positive impact on human health in every possible way, right from maintaining fitness to building up strength, injuries that occur during sports can be quite dangerous to the person involved. For instance, there are brain injuries that can cost a player their life. There are other injuries that may not impact the life of a person but may bring about an unwanted halt to their sports career.

Awareness can help reduce the number of injuries related to sports, which may include knowledge on rehydration, nutrition, skills and techniques, identification of warning signs, etc. Sportspeople should go through regular checkups to identify any potential problems and take precautions accordingly in advance. Once a problem sets in the form of an injury, it needs urgent medical attention.

Podiatry is a branch of medical science that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and management of diseases, defects and injuries of the foot, ankle and lower limb. By virtue of their profession, podiatrists are the catalysts for the promotion of physical activity all over the world. While the scope of a podiatrist’s job is very wide, a major portion of it relates to sports injuries. Sportspeople continue to play, perform and excel in their role due to effective and efficient podiatric care.

Depending on the kind of injury, a podiatrist can offer physical therapy or orthotics. Physiotherapy has proven to one of the best treatment methods for such injuries as it cures the problem with long lasting results. A modern physiotherapy clinic is equipped with advanced equipment and technology. A country encouraging sports needs to invest in the mechanism to counter sports-related injuries.

Almost every physiotherapy clinic in Singapore is facilitated to handle cases related to sports injuries, subjected to different degrees of criticality. Their modus operandi ensures that sports people get the best of treatments in a cost-effective manner and continue with their sports career without any setbacks. The list of every eminent physiotherapy clinic in Singapore can be found online.

Expert Tips to Prevent Lower Limb Injuries while Preparing for Your Game

It is true that exercising regularly or playing your favourite sports and help you attain fitness goals with great ease, but sometimes it may turn out to be most deadly nightmare, when you get injured while exercising. Staying injury-free should be the prime goal of active people and sports professionals while making a swift move towards fitness and healthy lifestyle. It is important to consider that no sport or exercise goal can get completed without having proper physical preparation and taking essential precautions that can save you from injuries and getting hurt badly. Read the sections below to understand some essential factors that can help you prevent lower limb injuries with great ease:

1.      Decide Are You Ready for Sport?

Getting your foot or ankle hurt during heavy workout routines and exercises is quite common, thus, it is highly important to ensure that you are really ready for sport of workout, before you actually start getting indulged in any such activity. In other words, any podiatrist Singapore professional will recommend going through a good physical preparation before taking up any physical or sports tasks that involves a lot of strength or effort from your body.

2.      Measure Your Strength and Balance

Strength and balance are the two most common aspects of sports and exercise that you must fulfil to ensure that the muscular system stays fee from any sort of damage, injury, or serious health problem. If anything wrong happens, then immediately take the patient to the nearest podiatry clinic and provide proper care to ensure that the medical case should not get worst due to delay in treatment. It is important to consider that your body is impacted by external forces while playing sport, thus, ensure that you never put too much pressure on your passive tissue structures.

3.      General Aerobic Fitness

No sport or exercise is complete without getting engaged in prolonged running sessions. Since fatigue increases the risk of injury as it promotes extreme lower limb bio mechanics, it is highly important to preventing your body from excessive fatigue while getting engaged in any sort of physical tasks. Never extend hip and knee postures, encourage increased hip rotations, and reduce massive movements and loads on knees to stay fit.