As a Sports Podiatrist, understanding the complexities of foot injuries & the path to recovery is crucial. Lisfranc injuries, involving the midfoot, are particularly challenging due to their severity & the critical role this area plays in foot function. Liz Clay, an elite Australian hurdler, faced this exact battle, offering a case study in resilience & recovery.
Career Highlights & Setbacks
Liz Clay’s journey to becoming a top hurdler was full of injuries. From a young age, she showed promise, consistently clocking mid-13 second times in the 100m hurdles. However, in 2020, she broke through, recording her first sub-13 second time. Despite the pandemic disrupting her 2020 season, she returned stronger in 2021, setting a personal best of 12.71 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics, narrowly missing the final by 0.04 seconds.
Her success continued into early 2022, but disaster struck at the World Championships, where she fell & suffered a severe injury: a broken cuneiform bone, cuboid joint involvement, plus fractures & dislocations of the 4th & 5th metatarsals.
Understanding the Lisfranc Injury
A Lisfranc injury involves damage to the bones & ligaments in the midfoot. It’s often caused by a high-impact trauma, such as a fall or severe twist. For Liz, this injury was devastating, affecting multiple bones & requiring complex treatment. For those more familiar with Australian rules football, it was the injury that Dane Swan suffered which marked the end of his career.
Key Features of Lisfranc Injuries:
- Involvement of multiple bones & joints
- Ligament damage leading to instability
- High pain & swelling, with inability to bear weight
Treatment & Rehabilitation
Surgical Intervention: Liz required two surgeries, spaced three months apart, to realign & stabilise the bones. This often involves screws or plates to hold the bones in place, crucial for proper healing (Picture below).
Post-Surgical Care: Following surgery, Liz’s foot was immobilised in a cast & later a boot for six weeks. She used crutches to avoid weight-bearing during this critical period.
Rehabilitation Phases:
Non-Weight Bearing Phase: For the first six weeks post-surgery, Liz avoided any pressure on her foot, focusing on upper body & core exercises to maintain overall fitness.
Gradual Weight Bearing: After six weeks, she transitioned to partial weight bearing in a boot, reintroducing stress to the healing structures.
Physical Therapy: This phase began with range of motion exercises, then progressed to strengthening exercises for the foot, ankle, & lower leg muscles, plus proprioception & balance training.
Return to Running: Liz started running in late December 2022, five months post-injury, beginning with walking, then slowly progressing to running.
Ongoing Rehabilitation: Even a year later, by November 2023, she hadn’t returned to “normal” function. This underscores the long-term nature of recovery from Lisfranc injuries.
The Comeback
Liz resumed racing in April 2023, competing in four races in Europe, achieving a best time of 13.02 seconds in windy conditions. Despite a sprained ankle during training in Europe, she continued her recovery & by early 2024, she was running under 13 seconds again.
Her dedication paid off with a second-place finish at the Nationals & a title win at the Oceania Championships in June 2024. Liz’s journey demonstrates the importance of perseverance, expert medical care, & comprehensive rehabilitation.
As Sports Podiatrists, Liz Clay’s story offers valuable insights into managing severe foot injuries & supporting athletes through their recovery. Her journey from a devastating injury to reclaiming her status as a top hurdler is a testament to her resilience & the importance of comprehensive medical & rehabilitative care.
If you have injured your foot, please book in to see one of our friendly Podiatrists at Talaria who can help provide personalised treatment & diagnosis for your own “comeback story” like Liz! Book Online or Call 9480 4935.