Ankle Pain & Sports Injury Treatment in Salt Lake City, Utah
Diagnosis and treatment for ankle sprains, foot injuries, tendon problems, fractures, running injuries, and overuse pain.
Foot and Ankle Sports Injury Care
Foot and ankle injuries can happen during sports, exercise, work, or everyday activities. At Salt Lake City Podiatry, Dr. Zak Oddone diagnoses and treats ankle sprains, foot injuries, tendon problems, stress fractures, foot fractures, and sports-related conditions to help patients recover quickly and safely.
Whether you recently rolled your ankle, developed pain while running, noticed swelling after activity, or are dealing with a lingering injury that will not improve, we offer personalized treatment plans to get you back to normal activity. Our approach focuses on accurate diagnosis, conservative treatment first, and surgical care only when truly necessary.
Common Foot & Ankle Sports Injuries We Treat
Sports and activity-related injuries can involve bones, ligaments, tendons, joints, nerves, or soft tissue. Prompt treatment helps prevent chronic pain, long-term instability, and repeated injury.
Ankle Sprains
Ligament injuries caused by rolling or twisting the ankle.
Ankle Instability
Recurring sprains, weakness, or a feeling that the ankle may give out.
Stress Fractures
Small bone injuries often caused by repetitive impact or overtraining.
Tendon Injuries
Pain involving the Achilles, peroneal, posterior tibial, or other tendons.
Foot Fractures
Injuries to the toes, metatarsals, midfoot, or other bones of the foot.
Running Injuries
Overuse pain related to training, shoes, mechanics, or sudden activity changes.
Ankle Sprains and Instability
Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports and activity-related injuries. They often happen when the ankle rolls inward or outward, stretching or tearing the ligaments that support the joint. Symptoms may include swelling, bruising, pain with walking, tenderness, stiffness, and a feeling of instability.
Even if an ankle sprain seems minor, it is important to make sure there is no fracture, tendon injury, cartilage injury, or significant ligament damage. Untreated sprains can lead to chronic ankle instability, repeated injuries, and long-term discomfort. If your ankle keeps giving out or pain persists after rest, a podiatric evaluation can help identify the cause.
Stress Fractures and Running Injuries
Runners, walkers, athletes, and active adults can develop pain from repetitive stress. Stress fractures may start as mild aching and gradually worsen with activity. Overuse injuries can also affect tendons, joints, arches, heels, and the ball of the foot.
Common risk factors include increasing mileage too quickly, worn-out shoes, training on hard surfaces, inadequate recovery, poor foot mechanics, high arches, flat feet, and sudden changes in activity. Early evaluation is important because continuing to train through pain can make injuries worse and extend recovery time.
Symptoms That Should Be Evaluated
Some injuries may appear minor at first but can worsen without proper treatment.
- Swelling or bruising after an injury.
- Difficulty walking or bearing weight.
- Pain that continues after rest.
- A pop, snap, or sudden sharp pain during injury.
- Instability or the feeling that the ankle may give out.
- Pain that returns every time you run, hike, or exercise.
Treatment Options for Ankle Pain and Sports Injuries
Treatment depends on your specific injury, activity level, exam findings, imaging results, and recovery goals. We focus on helping you heal safely while reducing the risk of reinjury.
Bracing
Ankle braces or supports may help stabilize the area during healing.
Walking Boots
Immobilization can protect fractures, tendon injuries, and severe sprains.
Physical Therapy
Therapy may improve strength, balance, motion, and return-to-activity safety.
Orthotics
Custom or non-custom orthotics may help improve mechanics and reduce overload.
Activity Modification
Temporary changes can help avoid worsening the injury during recovery.
Surgery
Surgical treatment is only considered when necessary based on the injury.
Foot and Ankle Imaging
Many ankle and foot injuries require imaging to confirm the diagnosis. Salt Lake City Podiatry offers in-office digital X-rays, which can help evaluate fractures, alignment, arthritis, bone spurs, and other bone-related injuries during your visit.
In some cases, additional imaging such as MRI may be recommended if symptoms suggest a stress fracture, tendon injury, cartilage injury, ligament tear, or condition that does not appear clearly on X-ray. Accurate diagnosis helps avoid unnecessary delays and guides the right treatment plan.
When to Seek Prompt Evaluation
You should schedule an evaluation promptly if you:
- Cannot bear weight after an injury.
- Heard or felt a pop during the injury.
- Have severe swelling, bruising, or deformity.
- Suspect a fracture or stress fracture.
- Have worsening pain instead of improvement.
- Have diabetes and develop a foot or ankle injury.
Related Conditions We Treat
Sports injuries can overlap with other foot and ankle conditions. For example, overuse can contribute to Achilles pain, heel pain, tendonitis, arch strain, or stress injury. Treating related issues can help improve recovery and prevent the same problem from returning.
You may also be interested in our pages on Achilles tendinitis treatment, heel pain treatment, custom orthotics, and conditions we treat.
Why Choose Salt Lake City Podiatry?
- Same-day and same-week appointments available.
- Located in the St. Mark’s Medical Building in Salt Lake City.
- Conservative and surgical treatment options.
- Digital foot and ankle X-rays available in office.
- Accepting Medicare and most commercial insurance plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule Ankle Pain or Sports Injury Treatment
If you are dealing with ankle pain, a foot injury, or a sports-related condition in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City Podiatry can help you recover safely.