A Lisfranc injury is a complex injury to the midfoot, specifically the tarsometatarsal joints that support the arch of your foot. It often occurs from a sudden trauma or twist and can lead to severe pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. Sometimes mistaken for a simple sprain, a Lisfranc injury is actually a serious condition that may take months to heal properly. If you’re dealing with a Lisfranc injury on the Sunshine Coast, Elite Foot Care is here to provide professional care to help you recover and get back on your feet.
For Sunshine Coast residents who enjoy sports and outdoor activities, understanding the causes of a Lisfranc injury can help with prevention. This type of midfoot injury usually happens due to a forceful trauma or an extreme twist of the foot. Some common causes and risk factors include:
Sports injuries: High-impact sports such as soccer, rugby, aussie rules football, or basketball can lead to a Lisfranc injury. A common scenario is when an athlete’s foot is planted on the ground and another player lands on the back of the foot, or when the foot twists awkwardly during a play.
Twisting falls or missteps: A simple stumble, trip, or missing a step can cause a Lisfranc injury if the foot twists sharply. Often the foot is pointed downward (in a tip-toe position) during the twist, which can sprain the midfoot ligaments or even dislocate the joints.
Direct trauma: Dropping a heavy object on the foot or experiencing an impact from a car accident or a fall from a height can injure the Lisfranc joint. These high-force events can fracture the midfoot bones and tear the stabilising ligaments.
Other risk factors: While anyone can sustain a Lisfranc injury given enough force, certain factors may increase risk. Athletes and physically active people are more frequently affected due to greater exposure to trauma. Also, wearing improper footwear or having unstable foot positioning during an activity can make an injury more likely. (However, you do not need to have any special risk factors — sometimes a Lisfranc injury truly is an accident from an unlucky twist or impact.)
Lisfranc injuries can sometimes be hard to identify because they may be mistaken for milder injuries like a simple sprain. However, there are some tell-tale signs to watch for. Common symptoms of a Lisfranc injury include:
Midfoot pain and tenderness: You will typically feel intense pain in the middle of your foot (the arch area), especially when standing, walking, or putting weight on it. The pain is often severe enough that you may not be able to bear weight on the injured foot.
Swelling and bruising: The top of the foot usually swells soon after the injury. Bruising often develops on the top of the foot, and bruising on the bottom of the foot (on the sole or arch) is a strong indicator of a Lisfranc injury. This kind of bruising on the arch is not common in an ankle sprain.
Difficulty walking or inability to bear weight: Because of the pain and instability in the midfoot, many people with a Lisfranc injury find they cannot walk normally. You might limp or be unable to put weight on the foot at all, often needing crutches.
Foot instability or deformity: The midfoot area might feel unstable, as if the bones are shifting when you try to stand. In severe Lisfranc injuries where bones are dislocated, the foot can appear widened or have an unusual shape across the arch.
Numbness or tingling: In some cases, swelling within the foot can press on nerves, leading to numb or tingling sensations in the toes or forefoot. This symptom, combined with pain and bruising, suggests a significant midfoot injury.
If you notice these symptoms after a foot injury – especially bruising in the arch or an inability to bear weight – seek medical evaluation promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment of a Lisfranc injury can prevent further complications and ensure the best possible recovery.
Diagnosing a Lisfranc injury promptly is important because early treatment can improve outcomes. At Elite Foot Care, our Sunshine Coast podiatrists will perform a thorough evaluation if a Lisfranc injury is suspected:
Physical examination: We will ask about how the injury happened and what symptoms you’re experiencing. Then we examine your foot, checking for swelling, areas of tenderness, bruising (especially on the bottom of the foot), and any looseness or instability in the midfoot. The podiatrist might gently press along the Lisfranc joint area or move your foot and toes to see if it causes pain or unusual movement. (These tests may be briefly uncomfortable but they will not make the injury worse.)
Imaging tests: Imaging is crucial for confirming a Lisfranc injury. An X-ray of your foot will reveal any fractures or dislocations in the midfoot. In subtle cases, a weight-bearing X-ray (taken while you stand) may be done – this can show separation between the bones that might be missed on a regular non-weight-bearing X-ray. Sometimes we request X-rays of both feet for comparison. If more detail is needed, advanced imaging might be used: a MRI scan can show torn ligaments or subtle injuries to the joint, and a CT scan provides a detailed 3D view of the bones to identify small fractures or the exact alignment of the joint surfaces.
Assessment of severity: Using the exam and imaging results, we will determine the severity of your Lisfranc injury. It could range from a ligament sprain (tears without dislocation) to one or more small fractures, or a complete fracture-dislocation of the midfoot. Knowing the extent of the injury helps us decide on the proper treatment approach for you.
By combining clinical expertise with the right imaging tests, we ensure that a Lisfranc injury is accurately identified. If you visit our clinic with midfoot pain or a suspected Lisfranc injury, you can trust that we’ll pinpoint the problem and explain the diagnosis to you in clear, understandable terms.
Treatment for a Lisfranc injury depends on the severity of the damage. At Elite Foot Care, we always strive to use the most effective yet least invasive approach suitable for your condition. Milder injuries where the bones remain in place (and ligaments are sprained but not completely torn) can often heal with conservative management. More severe injuries – such as fractures with misaligned bones or complete ligament ruptures causing instability – may require surgical intervention to properly restore the foot’s stability. In all cases, supporting the foot during healing and rehabilitating it afterward are crucial steps for a successful recovery.
Below are the main treatment options and what they involve:
A custom orthotic supports and aligns your lower limb putting the muscles and joints it in a position of congruence. Elite Foot Care has a state of the art custom orthotics manufacturing lab on the Sunshine Coast. This allows us to have complete control over the manufacturing process, resulting in
Elite Foot Care have access to a broad range of footwear designed for all walks of life at our Woombye and Sippy Downs locations! As part of our podiatry service, our podiatrists are able to provide you with the suitable, recommended footwear options from our own footwear store. Alternatively we
Moon boots, or walking boots, are specially designed orthopedic devices used to support the foot and ankle during the recovery process from injuries or surgery. These boots help in immobilizing the affected area, reducing pain and swelling, and promoting faster healing while allowing some degree of mobility.
Exercise prescription using the VALD Performance Assessment system involves tailoring rehabilitation programs based on detailed biomechanical analysis. This approach allows for the design of progressive rehab programs aimed at addressing specific patient needs, optimising recovery, and enhancing overall performance.
No matter which treatment path is taken – conservative or surgical – the recovery process isn’t complete until your foot has regained its strength and function. Proper rehabilitation and supportive care are essential for a successful return to activity. At Elite Foot Care, we place a strong emphasis on the after-care of a Lisfranc injury:
Custom orthotic inserts: As you transition out of a boot or cast and back into regular footwear, our podiatrists may prescribe custom orthotic insoles for your shoes. These inserts are crafted to support your arch and midfoot, reducing stress on the Lisfranc joint as it continues to heal. Elite Foot Care has a state-of-the-art orthotics laboratory on the Sunshine Coast, so we can design and manufacture high-quality custom orthotics quickly and precisely. By wearing orthotics, you can improve your comfort and stability during daily activities and potentially prevent long-term complications (like arch collapse or arthritis in the midfoot).
Rehabilitation exercises: We will guide you through exercises to rebuild strength and flexibility in your foot. This often starts with gentle range-of-motion movements and progresses to strengthening exercises for the foot and lower leg. For example, you may do exercises to strengthen your arch, improve your toe mobility, and regain calf strength (which is important for push-off when walking). Balance exercises can also help re-train the foot to adapt to uneven surfaces. If needed, we’ll connect you with a physiotherapist to assist with a structured rehab program, and we’ll work together to track your progress.
Gradual return to activity: Our team will help you plan a safe return to your normal activities and sports. We typically recommend easing back into high-impact activities gradually. For instance, if you’re a runner, we might start you with walking and low-impact cross-training (like cycling or swimming) before you attempt light jogging, and only later returning to full running once your foot can handle it. Throughout this process, we’ll be evaluating your foot’s strength and pain levels to ensure you’re not pushing too quickly. We can perform gait assessments to make sure you’re walking or running with proper form and that your orthotics are working well for you.
Long-term support: Even after you’re feeling better, we don’t cut you loose abruptly. We schedule follow-up visits a few weeks or months after you’ve resumed activities to check that everything remains on track. If you have any concerns — be it lingering pain, questions about exercises, or needing adjustments to your orthotics — we are here to help. Our aim is to ensure you stay pain-free and that your midfoot remains stable long after the initial injury has healed.
Focusing on orthotics and rehabilitation helps ensure that you regain full function of your foot and reduce the risk of future problems. With the right support, many people make a strong recovery from Lisfranc injuries and return to their work, sports, and hobbies. Our goal is to see you walking comfortably and confidently around the Sunshine Coast, free from midfoot pain.
At Elite Foot Care, we combine our podiatric expertise with a caring approach to guide you through every stage of a Lisfranc injury – from initial suspicion to full recovery.
Don’t let a Lisfranc injury keep you on the sidelines. The sooner you get the right treatment, the better your chances of a full recovery. If you suspect you have a Lisfranc injury or you’re suffering from persistent foot pain, contact Elite Foot Care on the Sunshine Coast today to get expert help.
Call us on (07) 5328 3588 to speak with our friendly team, or book an appointment online at your convenience. We have clinics in Woombye and Sippy Downs, serving patients across the Sunshine Coast region.
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