| Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown Ahead of Schedule on | | | | of the Kansas City Chiefs, Dwight Freeney of the |
| Rehab of Foot | | | | Indianapolis Colts and Kevin Jones of the Detroit Lions. |
| Running back Ronnie Brown of the Miami Dolphins | | | | Lisfranc injuries are usually very painful and patients |
| was having a career year last year when in one play | | | | are usually unable to walk or bear weight on the |
| against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers his season came | | | | affected foot. The imjury is also accompanied by |
| crashing down with his football future in jeopardy. He | | | | swelling, bruising and diminished range of motion to the |
| suffered a Lisfranc's fracture of his right foot which | | | | foot and toes. They are diagnosed initially by physical |
| required surgery. Fortunately for him and the Dolphins, | | | | examination while taking into account the patient's |
| he is ahead of schedule and plans to take part in | | | | description of the injury, but a more accurate |
| summer workouts and be ready for the upcoming | | | | assessment is done by MRI, CT, Xray or all three. |
| season. | | | | Treatment consists primarily of restoring normal |
| Lisfranc's joint is a joint in the middle of the foot where | | | | anatomy whether it be through cast immobilization or |
| the tarsal bones (midfoot) and metatarsal bones (long | | | | surgery. Following the surgery, physical therapy is done |
| bones of the foot or forefoot) come together. Injury | | | | to strengthen the foot, reduce swelling and get the |
| usually occurs when there is a traumatic impact or a | | | | patient used to using the foot again. Once the injury is |
| violent rotational force where both the forefoot and | | | | resolved, an orthotic is then used to support and |
| midfoot come together, causing a ligament strain or | | | | maintain the anatomic alignment. These injuries can be |
| complete dislocation of the joint or joints involved. This | | | | serious and career threatening for elite athletes if they |
| twisting force can also cause a fracture due to the | | | | are not treated appropriately. If anatomic alignment is |
| ligamentous attachments. These injuries usually occur | | | | not properly restored, these injuries can become |
| when players make a cut or shift in direction suddenly. | | | | chronic and severely limit a patient's ability to walk |
| It can also occur from a direct impact such as when a | | | | normally, let alone compete at a high level in |
| football player plants his foot to tackle an opposing | | | | professional sports. |
| player head on. While there are several different types | | | | If you suspect you have sustained a Lisfrancs injury, |
| of Lisfranc's injuries ranging from sprains to dislocations | | | | consult your local podiatrist for a thorough exam and |
| to fractures, injuries to this area can have a lingering | | | | treatment plan. Delaying or avoiding treatment can |
| effect if not completely healed. Several athletes have | | | | have serious detrimental effects on the function of |
| suffered from Lisfrancs injuries including Larry Johnson | | | | your foot. |