Ankle and Foot Pain
Are You Experiencing Discomfort in Your Ankle or Foot That Is Impeding Your Ability to Walk, Run, Jump, Go Down Stairs, or Carry Out Your Regular Work or Household Tasks?
Do you relate to the described situation?
- Did you anticipate the pain would subside within a short period, but it persisted instead?
- Despite trying heating pads, ice, and home TENS units, did you find no relief?
- Even after receiving massages, did the pain resurface within a few days?
- Did a doctor examine you, take images, administer injections, or prescribe medication, but the relief was only temporary?
- Have you previously attempted physical therapy without success?
- Did you conclude that avoiding painful activities is a viable approach to managing discomfort?
Our Purpose Is to Assist You in Discovering Lasting Solutions to Your Condition!
Here Are Some Common Ankle/Foot Conditions We Specialize in Treating:
- Arthritis
- Ankle sprain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Posterior tibial tendinopathy
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Midfoot pain
- Morton’s neuroma
Frequent Causes:
- Impaired Mechanics: Reduced joint mobility or limited muscle flexibility can result in a decreased range of motion. Weakness, muscle imbalances, and compromised posture can also contribute to this.
- Injury: Acute trauma or excessive strain on the tissues.
- Chronic Compensations: Prior injuries or the fear of future injuries may lead to the avoidance of certain muscle groups while placing excessive strain on other tissues due to compensatory movements.
Continuous Motion Physical Therapy
- Disrupt the cycle of pain by providing education, manual therapy, and enhancing tissue mobility.
- Enhance the mechanics of the joints, muscles, and nerves in the affected area during everyday functional tasks and specific exercises for sports or activities.
- Apply controlled loading to the tissues to enhance strength, power, and endurance, ensuring they are adequately prepared for all desired activities without the fear of re-injury.
Treatment Approaches for Ankle and Foot Conditions:
- Reduce tissue inflammation using braces, taping, and massage.
- Enhance tissue mobility through techniques such as massage, instrument-assisted mobilization, cupping, dry needling, and stretching.
- Improve control of the core, hips, and knees to minimize abnormal forces on the ankle.
- Strengthen the calf and intrinsic foot muscles.
- Enhance joint health and restore full range of motion.
- Optimize balance and control during single-limb movements.
- Gradually advance to plyometric and functional activities, including jumping, running, cutting, squatting, and climbing.
- Progress aerobic and endurance conditioning.
- Provide recommendations for appropriate footwear.
Key Points to Understand:
- Tissue Healing: The body has a natural ability to repair itself, but sometimes it needs assistance to transition from the inflammatory phase to the recovery phase of tissue healing.
- Pain Source: The true cause of pain often doesn’t align with X-ray or MRI results. Tissue damage seen on imaging may not necessarily cause pain or functional limitations, while pain can occur without visible findings on imaging, often due to heightened sensitivity of nervous tissue.
- Exercise Soreness: Post-exercise soreness is not the primary goal, but it is not always a cause for concern. Genuine strength gains require exerting strain on the system, leading to micro-damage. As the tissue recovers, it becomes thicker and stronger. Soreness can serve as an indicator of whether the tissue is ready for increased load, should maintain the current level, or necessitates reducing training intensity until the tissue is better prepared.
- Return to Activities: With proper education, correct mechanics, and gradual tissue loading, resuming previous or desired activities is typically achievable.
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