121: Foot and Ankle Sports Injuries w/ Dr. Gianakos

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In this episode, Dr. Ariana Gianakos joins us to talk about sports foot and ankle injuries. We cover common athletic injuries, evaluation strategies, treatment options, rehab, and the challenges of getting athletes safely back to play. Dr. Gianakos shares her journey into sports foot and ankle surgery, how her own athletic injuries shaped her career, and the international fellowship experiences that helped define her approach to treating elite athletes.

We also discuss:

• Common sports-related foot and ankle injuries

• Key anatomy and physical exam pearls

• Imaging strategies and when to order MRIs

• Conservative vs surgical treatment options

• Return-to-play timelines for athletes

• Managing instability, tendon injuries, and high ankle sprains

• The role of PRP, biologics, and peptides in sports medicine

• Building global consensus in foot and ankle sports care

Enjoy!

Arianna Gianakos, DO, is an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in sports-related injuries of the foot and ankle, including Achilles tendon injuries; ankle sprains and instability; ligament reconstruction; and trauma-related foot and ankle fractures, as well as various other foot and ankle conditions.

Dr. Gianakos' interest in sports medicine—particularly foot and ankle sports medicine—is the result of a long, personal history with sports. She was an All-American Athlete, former collegiate basketball player, and track and field athlete who had her own share of injuries and orthopaedic surgeries. "My experience taught me the importance of having a physician who was passionate about getting patients back on their feet so they are able to return to sports," she says. "I chose a career where I could help patients in the same way my orthopaedic surgeons helped me."

Her approaches include cutting-edge, minimally invasive surgeries, including in-office needle arthroscopy, and a variety of nonsurgical interventions, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, stem cell therapy, and fat cell therapy.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Gianakos is an assistant professor of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine. She has collaborated on studies of cartilage regeneration, tendon healing, and bone growth, and has a personal research focus on gender- and sex-related differences in foot and ankle injuries and outcomes.

Dr. Ariana Gianakos earned her Bachelor of Science degree from McGill University before completing her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. She went on to complete her orthopedic surgery residency at Rutgers Health, followed by a fellowship in Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital through Harvard Medical School. She also completed advanced international training in foot and ankle IONA and sports medicine through NYU Langone Health. In addition, she is a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, where her research focuses on gender and sex-related differences in foot and ankle surgery.