Celebrating 26 Years of Excellence!  
                 

   McDonald Physical Therapy News 

 

         July 2015 

 

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 Contact us at (574)233-5754

Fran's Favorite Quotes

 

"One kind word can warm three winter months!" 

  

 

 

The MPT Team is excited to support the following events this Summer- come out and join us!

 

Eagle Lake Triathlon

8/1

 

Running Wild 5K

8/15

 

(Click on links for 

more info)    

      

 

Do you have pain in your back, neck, shoulder, knee or arm? Do you have pain when you exercise, garden or when going about your normal routine?
 
If so, now you can call us directly and get immediate relief as you no longer have to see your physician first. 
 
We want you back in the game TODAY! Call us for an evaluation at 574-233-5754

  

   

 




The new MPT site offers quick and easy access to essential information for our patients,regarding their first visit, necessary forms
and FAQ's.

The website is also a great resource to 
learn more about our services, facilities and staff. 

  

Dear Friends,

 

Greetings on this July day! I thought I would share the following story with you as so many of you are thinking about the school year to come.

 

In the past year I had a father call me on a Saturday morning, informing me that his son, who was 17 years old, had injured his ankle playing baseball for his high school team. He informed me that his son loved baseball and hoped to play in college. He also informed me that his son was put on crutches and told to walk without weight bearing for 2 weeks.  
 

This was and is a devastating injury for a 17 year old who loves their sport. This becomes even more devastating when that young person has aspirations to play in college. This concerned dad asked me to examine his son and give him further direction. 
 
I did see him on Saturday and listened to his story. He had X-rays that were negative and had seen an urgent care physician. After examining him, I suggested he see a specialist from a group I meet with on Friday mornings at Notre Dame. I began his treatment that day and we were fortunate to get him in to see a specialist the next week. 

A long story short, he was able to see a physician experienced in sports and was given the green light to walk and get off the crutches. We treated him three times a week for 3 weeks and he was able to get back to playing baseball and enjoy his senior season. 
 
Ankle problems are challenging for our younger population, especially if they are playing sports. It is extremely important to get to a medical provider that specializes in the area of their injury. These specialists truly understand how to help your child regain the ability to play the sport of their choice as quickly and safely as possible. 
 
Please remember, as of July 2013, patients can come to our physical therapy clinic without seeing their physician first. In our 26 years of practice in the Michiana area we have seen more orthopedic and sports patients than any other practice in the area. We know the physicians well and will help you get to the proper specialist as quickly as possible. 

Please feel free to call and let us help you receive the proper examination and treatment for your son or daughter's injury, (or your own!). This will help them get back to a pain free life as quickly and safely as possible.  This will also help them get back in the game! 

 

Enjoy,
Fran

 

 

 

What is Ankle Impingement

 

Ankle impingement occurs when either soft or bony tissues are compressed within the ankle joint at the extreme end of a motion, such as pointing the foot sharply downward. It typically affects people who experience forces through their ankle at these "end-range" positions, such as dancers, gymnasts, or people performing kicking activities. Additionally, people who perform repetitive tasks that involve squatting or stair-climbing are susceptible to this condition.

 

Anterior ankle impingement involves pain on the front side of your ankle. Inflammation and swelling occur due to repetitive stresses at end-range positions of the ankle, such as when one jumps, squats, or descends stairs. These may eventually lead to development of bone spurs (a bony overgrowth) in the ankle joint space. An additional cause of anterior ankle impingement is ankle instability. Ankle instability is a looseness of the ankle joint that develops after repeated ankle sprains, causing damage to ligaments in the ankle. This damage can cause the ligaments to become scarred and take up more joint space. Tissue in the joint space is then compressed, causing pain during activities that require ankle dorsiflexion (stretching your toes up toward your shin). Examples of these activities include squatting, jumping, and stair-climbing.

 

Posterior ankle impingement involves pain on the back side of your ankle, especially during activities that involve pointing your toes. The pain is caused by compression of soft or bony tissue between the shin bone (tibia) and the heel bone (calcaneus). Some people have a small extra bone in the back of their ankle called the Os Trigonum. This little bone can lead to posterior impingement because of compression between the shin bone and the heel bone, when the foot is pointed. Additionally, large amounts of force on the ankle occasionally may cause small pieces to break off the ankle bone, which can also become compressed when the ankle moves into "end-range plantar flexion" (moving the foot or toes downward toward the sole of the foot). Compression of tissue causes inflammation and swelling that leads to pain.

 

Signs and Symptoms

With anterior ankle impingement, you may experience:

  • Pain on the front and/or outside of the ankle joint
  • A feeling of ankle instability
  • Decreased ankle range of motion when stretching your toes up toward your shin
  • Pain at the end-range of stretching your toes toward your shin
  • Tenderness at the front of the ankle when touched

With posterior ankle impingement, you may experience:

  • Pain on the back of your ankle, especially during activities that involve pointing your toes
  • Decreased range of motion when pointing your toes
  • Tenderness on the back of the ankle when touched

How Is It Diagnosed?

Your physical therapist will perform a physical examination to evaluate your ankle strength, range of motion, sensation, and structural stability as well as your balance. Your physical therapist also will perform special tests, such as gently moving your ankle to see if it causes symptoms.

 

To provide a definitive diagnosis, your therapist may collaborate with an orthopedist or other health care provider. The most accurate method to diagnose ankle impingement is by X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can be ordered by the orthopedist.


  How Can a Physical Therapist Help?

Once you have been diagnosed with ankle impingement, your physical therapist will work with you to achieve your functional goals, and help you return to activities you previously performed without pain.

 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call us to day for an evaluation (574)233-5754.


 

**article courtesy of moveforwardpt.com