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If you're dealing with ankle pain or other ankle problems, whether caused by a sports-related injury, an accident, or some trauma, CONTACT US to meet with our highly-regarded ankle injury specialist and trusted ankle doctor, Dr. John Hibbitts.
Texas board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. John M. Hibbitts, has helped patients recover from ankle injuries and other ankle conditions since 1994. An experienced foot & ankle doctor, he earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He has provided specialized ankle care to patients in Texas, Ohio, and South Carolina.
Dr. Hibbitts, not only an accomplished ankle specialist but also an athlete himself, has spent years training in karate, Jiu Jitsu, and rugby, in addition to being a father of three children. He knows how vital your ankle is to everything you do, and how injury and pain, including foot pain can limit mobility and enjoyment of life. As a sports medicine specialist, Dr. Hibbitts has worked with hundreds of patient-athletes of all ages to diagnose and treat injuries, both recent and those lingering issues caused by “old injuries” from “years ago.”
Get back to your daily and athletic pursuits. Call the Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center today for comprehensive foot & ankle care!
As a growing ankle pain specialist near Dallas, Texas, the Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center is conveniently located near Highway 80 and I-635.
Dr. Hibbitts and the team at Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center proudly serve as your local premier ankle injury doctors.
Your “ankle” is actually several complicated structures that attach the leg and foot.
Ankle injuries can be caused by running, jumping, turning suddenly, directly impacting with an outside object or person, and hyper-extending the joint. If you experience ankle tightness, pain, and inflammation, it means you need to see an experienced ankle injury specialist.
Two joints comprise the ankle:
Bones in the true ankle joint:
Bones in the subtalar joint:
Ligaments attach bones to each other. The ankle’s major ligaments:
Articular cartilage is a compact, flexible tissue that covers the ends of bones, protecting them from friction during movement. Because many bones join at the ankle, cartilage plays a major role in all ankle and foot movements. However, ankle cartilage is thin and susceptible to damage with time and repeated injuries.
Tendons attach muscles to bones. In the ankle:
Injuries from athletics are called “sports injuries;” however, non-athletes also experience injury during exercise or accidents such as a slip-and-fall or an auto collision. Dr. Hibbitts and his ankle injury specialist team are prepared to treat all types of ankle pain.
The most common cause of sports-related injury is a lack of proper training and muscle preparation. When an athlete doesn’t stretch properly before engaging in exercise or neglects foot care , the tight muscles may not reach peak performance , causing types of foot and ankle joints to endure extra stress and strain.
This can lead to a sprained ankle, tendinitis, or even broken bones and dislocation. It is crucial to consult with ankle surgeons or an orthopedist specializing in orthopedic surgery for severe injuries, as neglecting these conditions could lead to deformities such as bunions or hammertoes.
Athletes of nearly every sport sustain heel pain and ankle injuries. Our sports ankle injury specialists see patient-athletes who participate in nearly every sport and type of exercise, including:
Most sports-related injuries are caused by a few preventable, controllable factors. Dr. Hibbitts, like many ankle injury doctors, recommends the following to best protect yourself against common injuries:
If you are injured, stop any physical activity and treat it immediately with these first aid techniques. Don’t try to “walk it off”! You could complicate or worsen the problem.
To help remember the steps for first aid, use the acronym “RICE.”
These first-aid techniques can help you manage your pain and stabilize your ankle until you can seek professional evaluation and treatment from an ankle injury specialist.
To diagnose your ankle injury and prescribe the appropriate treatment plan, Dr. Hibbitts may use one or more of the following imaging techniques:
As a specialist in ankle injuries, Dr. Hibbitts examines your specific situation and medical history to determine the cause of your ankle pain and the best treatment for you.
You can treat common ankle injuries without surgery, but the best recovery happens with supervision from an ankle injury specialist. Ankles are complex structures, and once they’ve been injured, you can easily re-injure it through over-exertion. Many people find that combining nonsurgical methods provides the greatest relief and protection against ongoing ankle re-injuries.
Nonprescription anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relief) medications treat most mild to moderate ankle pain and swelling. Many ankle injuries can be treated with rest and oral pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). Pain relief creams, gels, and patches applied to the skin are also common over-the-counter treatments.
For moderate to severe pain from your injury, our ankle pain specialist may prescribe a more potent medication.
Physically manipulating the ankle in various positions along with controlled stretching and mild joint exercise helps strengthen muscle and encourage blood flow that increases joint mobility and flexibility. Physical therapy treatments can last from a few months immediately following an injury to one year or longer to recover from chronic, long-term pain.
An intramuscular injection of cortisone can treat many moderate-to-severe cases of ankle pain and inflammation. The results often last for several weeks and may need repeating if you have irreversible damage to your ankle’s soft tissues.
For long-term support to your injured ankle, Dr. Hibbitts may prescribe a wearable stabilization device, or “boot,” that will allow you to walk and place some pressure on your ankle while it is healing.
Frequently, ankle injuries are treatable without surgery. However, if nonsurgical treatments do not relieve your pain and restore your mobility, orthopaedic ankle injury specialist Dr. Hibbitts may recommend a surgical procedure as a part of your health care journey for the best long-term solution.
Dr. Hibbitts, an experienced ankle injury specialist, performs arthroplasty and arthroscopic ankle surgery whenever possible to minimize complications. Many of these treatment options, including ankle replacement and joint replacement are outpatient procedures under his professional health care management.
Common ankle surgeries include:
Surgery may not be right for everyone, but it may be the best solution for your ankle pain. Discuss your situation with ankle injury doctor John Hibbitts to determine your individualized treatment plan. He offers a range of treatment options and may suggest a course of action, such as ankle replacement or arthroplasty, depending on your specific condition.
Dr. John Hibbitts earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology at the University of Texas at Austin. After earning his Medical Doctor degree, Dr. Hibbitts completed his residency at the University of South Carolina Department of Orthopedic Surgery and fellowship at the Cincinnati Sportsmedicine and Orthopedic Center.
Dr. Hibbitts is a proud member of the following professional organizations:
For more than 20 years, Dr. Hibbitts has assisted hundreds of patients in their journey to a pain-free life after their ankle injuries. He is now establishing himself as an ankle injury specialist near Dallas, Texas (located in Sunnyvale).
Let our team at the Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center help you bounce back from a bad ankle, and get you back up and running around.