Lisfranc ligament injuries are a not fun.
Hardly a controversial take.
But after seeing a few more than usual in the last month in clinic and then having some great in conversations with my clients, I’ve learned something new…
The information available out there on the web for lisfranc ligament injuries is not good. It’s out of date, highly negative and in need of a podiatrists touch.
See what I mean?
A quick search through google and you’ll be inundated with titles such as: “Life on One Foot”, “My Life with Lisfranc”, “Why I Will Never Run Again”.
After a mere 20 minutes of scrolling through these articles, I was deflated.
This was despite my better judgment and personal experiences with the condition.
I can only imagine the impact this would have on someone who has been given nothing more than an unfamiliar name for their foot pain.
So, I am here to bring a little balance to how a lisfranc ligament injuries are portrayed.
Overcoming lisfranc ligament injuries stigma
We all know that any injury is frustrating.
The aches and pains when coupled with having to slow down or ask for help with the simplest tasks, can take a huge toll emotionally.
Combine this with ambiguous treatment protocols or vague information about what to expect, and Voila! We are left with a feeling of unnecessary helplessness.
That’s where your trusty podiatrist comes in!
We’re here to give you clarity to the uncertainty that can surround your lisfranc ligament injuries.
So, what is a lisfranc injury…….exactly??
A lisfranc injury occurs at the tarsometatarsal joints, within the middle part of your foot.
The most commonly affected site is the 2nd joint, where the lisfranc ligament attaches (hence the name).
These injuries are almost exclusively obtained through some form of traumatic event and can range from a sprain to a complete fracture – dislocation.
Check out the image below of the lisfranc ligament (or the ligamento de lisfranc in Spanish 😉).
You will notice pain and swelling, and standing on the foot will be difficult or intolerable.
What should I do?
Stay off your foot.
It hurts for a reason….yeah?
So, even if you’re not 100% sure that it IS a lisfranc injury, take it easy until you can get checked out to avoid any further damage.
Book an appointment with your podiatrist ASAP for a thorough assessment and personalised treatment plan.
What should I expect?
- A thorough assessment. Your podiatrist will work through a range of tests to accurately determine the exact site and severity of your injury. Following this, you will know exactly what has been hurt and have a clear idea on how we get back to smashing your goals. You may be asked to get an x-ray but this is not always necessary. These injuries are notorious for being missed on imaging. Often, a clinical examination can give a lot more useful information.
- Load optimisation. This is essentially determining the forces that are necessary through an area and those that are potentially pathological. Initially it will take the form of a CAM boot to assist with the early stages of healing; allowing you to continue with daily living while your foot gets some much needed “R&R”. However, as your foot repairs, it is important that you are not left vulnerable to further injury due to deconditioning. We ensure that you are able to maintain tissue capacity as much as possible without overloading the injured area via a range of external devices and tailored exercise programs.
- Capacity building. This is where we take the current amount of work that your foot is doing, and we gradually increase it. This progressive strengthening allows us to get you back to achieving the goals you are working towards.
The final word on lisfranc ligament injuries…
Lisfranc ligament injuries, similar to most traumatic injuries, can be frustrating and debilitating in the (and I cannot emphasize this enough…) SHORT TERM.
They should not result in a lifelong sentence of pain or limitation.
With a clear and effective treatment plan in place, there is no reason why you must put any of your physical endeavors on hold over the long term.
We’ve got some more nitty gritty details of lisfranc injuries here. But for most people reading this you’ll be needing our services one on one to get started. You can book your session online or give us a call.
