| What is a Midfoot Sprain? | | | | higher demands on the foot in athletics will be painful. |
| A midfoot sprain is an injury to the ligaments of the | | | | On the other end of the spectrum, in more severe |
| central region of the foot, known as the midfoot. It is a | | | | injuries, the injured athlete may not be able to bear any |
| common injury that occurs during athletics, in particular | | | | weight even to walk. |
| those sports where there is cutting and twisting that | | | | On physical examination, the injured foot will look |
| can lead to this injury. It can cause an athlete to miss | | | | swollen and be tender over the injured joints. It's |
| considerable time from his or her season. | | | | important that the examining physician localize the |
| Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers and Jason | | | | injury to the specific joints involved. The tendons of the |
| Witten of the Dallas Cowboys are two recent high | | | | foot should remain intact in a midfoot sprain, however |
| level athletes who sustained a sprain of their midfoot. | | | | their motion may produce pain in the foot if they place |
| How does a midfoot sprain occur? | | | | stress on the injured joints with motion. |
| Any twisting injury to the lower extremity where the | | | | If there is a suspicion for a more severe injury, an MRI, |
| athlete's body turns and their foot remains planted in | | | | ultrasound or CT scan may be obtained. The MRI |
| the ground or playing surface can lead to a midfoot | | | | gives the greatest detail of the injured ligaments as it is |
| sprain. When the athlete twists all the force that | | | | a good test to evaluate soft-tissues. The ultrasound is |
| occurs when they plant and pivot is transmitted | | | | an easy test to evaluate the amount of separation |
| through their foot as opposed to through the ground. | | | | between the bones and therefore the integrity of the |
| This can also occur in sports where the foot is | | | | injured ligaments, but is only available when a specially |
| purposely kept in place like a stirrup for jockeys and | | | | trained musculoskeletal radiologist is present. The CT |
| for windsurfers. Different playing surfaces and shoe | | | | scan is useful if there is a suspicion that the injured |
| wear can have an affect on an injury depending on | | | | ligament may have pulled off a small piece of bone at |
| the amount of friction that occurs between the two. | | | | one of its ends as in a Lisfranc injury. The CT scan is |
| An injury can also occur when another athlete lands or | | | | the best test to see bone in great detail. |
| steps on the back of the patient's heel causing a large | | | | How do you classify a midfoot sprain? |
| force to occur directly through the foot. | | | | Midfoot sprains are most commonly a momentary |
| Who gets a midfoot sprain? | | | | stretch of a ligament that subsequently recoils to its |
| Midfoot sprains can occur in many sports, but typically | | | | original length and is therefore a grade 1 injury. More |
| occur in those that risk the athlete's foot to a twisting | | | | severe, and less common, injuries may cause a partial |
| injury. The most common sport for this to occur in | | | | (grade 2) or complete (grade 3) ligament rupture. In |
| would be football, however athletes in soccer, | | | | these cases, the injury is more severe as the ligament |
| basketball, field hockey and many others can sustain | | | | does not return to its original length, and the bones it |
| these injuries. Also, those unique sports in which the | | | | holds together can separate. This is the definition of an |
| foot is locked into a position place the midfoot at risk | | | | unstable injury that usually requires a surgery to repair. |
| of an injury. As noted above, these can equestrian | | | | How is a midfoot sprain treated? |
| sports, windsurfing, and pedaling sports. | | | | For treatment information on non-operative treatment, |
| How do you diagnose a midfoot sprain? | | | | when surgery is necessary, and what to do after |
| An athlete with a midfoot sprain will have sustained a | | | | surgery, please click the following link. |
| twisting or pivoting injury to his or her foot. They will | | | | Midfoot Sprain |
| develop immediate pain and later swelling in the central | | | | If you suspect that you have a midfoot sprain, it is |
| region of their foot. The swelling often can lead to | | | | critical to seek the urgent consultation of a local sports |
| bruising on either the top or bottom or the foot. How | | | | injuries doctor for appropriate care. To locate a top |
| much swelling and subsequent bruising occurs is | | | | doctor or physical therapist in your area, please visit |
| related to how severe the injury is. The athlete will also | | | | our Find a Sports Medicine Doctor or Physical |
| complain of pain with bearing weight. In milder injuries | | | | Therapist Near You section. |
| they will be able to walk without too much pain, but the | | | | |