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Sports Medicine
Sports injury specialist in Pooler, GA
As with any sporting activity, it’s very important to be aware of the safety precautions needed to help avoid injury and reduce risk. With that being said, injuries of the foot and ankle are fairly common among those who actively participate in sports.
Some sports may be considered more dangerous in terms of foot and ankle injuries compared to others. These sports may include basketball, running, football, soccer, and dancing. Sports that require tightly worn shoes as well as have a particular focus on jumping typically run a higher risk of injury. Because the feet are considered the foundation of the body, help us stay balanced, and enable us to perform our everyday activities, professional help should be sought at the first instinct of something gone wrong.
Common Sports-Related Foot Injuries
Some common contributors that lead to foot and ankle injuries in the realm of sports include not stretching properly or failing to warm up, wearing the incorrect footwear needed for your particular sport, as well as not taping or providing your feet and ankle with the needed support. There are a number of foot conditions that can develop if certain safety measures are ignored. Some of the most common conditions related to sports injuries include achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures, to name a few.
Achilles tendinitis affects the largest tendon in the body, the achilles tendon. This type of injury typically occurs because of overuse. The main function of the achilles tendon is to transmit power from the calf muscles to the heel and the foot. When this tendon is harmed, it can be extremely painful and may lead to further complications including tears, ruptures, tendinitis, peritendinitis, tendinosis, tendinopathy, and bursitis.
Plantar fasciitis may occur when the band of tissues that support the arch of your foot experience too much stress. These tissues can become strained from frequently performing sporting activities, thus causing inflammation and pain at the bottom of the heel.
Stress fractures can arise due to a lack of conditioning, use of improper equipment or technique, and repetitive stress placed on the foot and ankle. A stress fracture is a small crack in the bone that can be very painful and cause a great deal of discomfort.
If you commonly participate in sporting activities and would like more information about how to keep your feet and ankles safe, as well as learn more about your treatment options if injured, we recommend you speak with a podiatrist for professional guidance and care.
MLS Laser Therapy
On The Forefront of Non-Surgical Pain Relief & Tissue Repair
The Foot & Ankle Center, PC is the first medical facility in southeast Georgia and the low country to offer their patients the latest advancement in safe, comfortable and highly effective pain relief and tissue repair. Our new deep tissue laser treatments can dramatically reduce your pain with no hassle, no drugs, and no side effects. With our lasers treatments, you can avoid invasive surgery, costly medications, and recovery time away from work.
The Cutting Edge MIX5 Laser is one of the most technologically advanced therapeutic Class IV lasers approved by the FDA . The MLS Laser is capable of delivering over 100 times more healing energy than the most powerful devices of the previous generation ( Class III – ‘Cold Lasers’ – LLLT – Low Level Laser Therapy ).
More power means shorter treatment times, less therapy needed and immediate pain relief . The Cutting Edge MLS Laser floods the tissues with photons, energizing the damaged cells and increasing circulation to the painful area. This increases the body’s production of ATP (Adenosine-triphosphate), expediting the healing process to reduce inflammation and repair damaged tissue.
MLS Stands for “ Multi-wave Lock System .” MLS is the name of the technology used that utilizes the patented combination of wavelengths . The 2 wavelengths are synchronized to work together, much like a symphony to deliver superior results. Like two musical instruments playing together in harmony, the patented MLS emission system organizes continuous and pulsed emission providing simultaneous anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in considerably reduced times. In addition, this unique patented synchronization of multiple wavelengths creates less ‘scatter’ and allows for safe deep tissue treatment . (Scatter can produce heat in the tissues and is the reason why with other Class IV therapeutic laser devices the therapist must keep the laser beam in motion). Treatments take just a few minutes and are painless, however, the therapeutic effects continue to soothe and heal long after the treatment ends.
Watch this short video which demonstrates the advanced technology of the MLS Laser from Cutting Edge.
MLS Laser Therapy - FAQ's
What are the most common indications for therapy? The most common indications for MLS Therapy are pain relief, degenerative joint disease, arthritic conditions, muscular and skeletal system trauma, and inflammatory conditions such as plantar fascitiis and tendonitis.
What wavelengths are used in the MLS therapy? MLS therapy uses both the 808nm and 905nm wavelengths simultaneously . The 808nm wavelength is delivered using continuous emission while the 905nm wavelength is delivered using pulsed emission.
Why are two wavelengths used? MLS Therapy uses two wavelengths to overcome the limits of traditional Laser Therapy. Traditional Laser therapy does not deliver both wave lengths in a reinforcing and synchronized fashion. Continuous laser emissions act fast on inflammation, stimulating blood and lymphatic circulation and inducing fast re-absorption of fluid build ups; however they only have a secondary effect on pain, which is diminished after reducing the inflammatory process. Pulsed laser emissions , on the other hand, have a practically immediate effect on pain, since they are able to induce analgesia, interfering with the very transmission of the pain impulse to the higher brain centers, but they are less effective at treating inflammation and edema.
Is MLS Therapy approved by the FDA? Yes, the FDA has approved the use of MLS therapy and it is also patented via the US Patent Office.
What is the advantage of MLS therapy over traditional low level lasers (LLLT “Class III”)? MLS Therapy is able to induce strong anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and analgesic effects simultaneously and within a short period of time. LLLT cannot achieve these results because of the limitations of using one or two wavelengths that are not synchronized. The patented control system that generates the MLS pulse synchronizes the emissions to achieve results previously unattainable. Thanks to this characteristic synchronization, the various therapeutic effects not only take place at the same time but reciprocally reinforce each other.
What is MLS? MLS or “ Multi-wave Lock System. ” is the name of the technology that utilizes the patented combination of wavelengths, thus allowing the 2 wavelengths to work together to deliver superior results.
Are Cutting Edge MLS Therapy Lasers class IV lasers? Yes, the MIX5 is a class IV laser with a peak power of 25 watts.
What is the depth of penetration of the MLS laser? The depth of penetration varies but in most cases it will penetrate 4-5 cm (~1.5inches).
How many treatments are usually needed to get results? Results can often been felt after the first treatment. To get the most definitive and long lasting benefit, 6-10 treatments are usually required. The treatments are cumulative and are delivered 2 – 3 times per week.
Is the treatment covered by insurance? At this time insurance does not cover the cost.
How was MLS Therapy developed and tested? MLS Therapy has been developed and tested following a strict course of biomedical and clinical research. The effectiveness of the combination of the emissions making up the MLS pulse was initially tested in vitro on cellular cultures, then in vivo on animals, and finally by means of controlled clinical trials run by major state-of-the-art health organizations for treating traumatic and degenerative painful diseases.
To find out if MLS Laser Therapy is right for you, call or book an appointment with a podiatrist.
For additional information:
Watch the MLS Laser Therapy Video to see the laser in action.