The Ligament That Won't Keep You Down

Jonathan Horton, an American Olympic gymnast, injured his ankle a couple of weeks ago. While performing the vault, he landed awkwardly resulting in a torn ligament and two broken metatarsals. As a result, he had to undergo surgery. However, rather than viewing this as a set-back, he has stated that this injury will allow him to perfect other parts of the sport. He feels that this injury will only make him a better athlete.

It is not uncommon for a person to fracture a bone as a result of a ligament injury. Ligaments attach to bones and when they are put under excessive amounts of stress, they can end up pulling off a piece of the bone with them. You can think of it like a tug of war between your ligament and the bone and eventually one gives way to the other. Unfortunately, in this situation, surgery is needed to repair the ligament and the bone.

There are many types of ligamentous injuries though ranging from sprains to tears. Along with the wide range of injuries, there is also a wide range of treatment plans. For mild injuries, it may be sufficient to immobilize your foot with a cast or a walking boot. This will allow the ligament to heal without having further stress placed upon it. Another option is laser therapy. The laser works by increasing cellular ability as well as stimulating growth and repair. This stimulation helps to heal the tissue causing lasting positive effects. The treatment is non-invasive and will allow you long-lasting effects. For the more severe injuries, surgery may be the ultimate option.

With any ligamentous injury, it is important to have imaging studies done to determine the severity of your injury. Through the aid of x-rays, your podiatrist can determine if there is any bone involvement and what approach needs to be taken to heal your ligament. It is important to seek medical attention because an injured ligament can become progressively worse if the proper precautions are not taken. This will result in your treatment plan being both more intensive and longer.

Although each injury is different, the proper treatment plan can be found for you. In no time, you will be back on your feet just like Jonathan Horton.