How Physiotherapy Can Help Your Foot and Ankle Pain
Pain In Your Feet and Ankles? Here’s The Answer.
How many times a day do you think you get up and walk somewhere? Even if it’s just from your desk to the office kitchen, you’re using your feet. We walk around an awful lot, so it goes without saying that if you suffer from ankle and feet pain, your quality of life has most likely taken a drastic downturn.
Foot and ankle pain may stem from a multitude of different factors, but Amped Physiotherapy can pinpoint the source of your pain and help get you back to where you need to be. Did you know that physiotherapy is a common solution for the rehabilitation of injuries and underlying conditions? It’s true! Seeing a physiotherapist about your acute or chronic feet and ankle pain could be the key to solving your problems.
Having pain in your feet and ankles can make mundane tasks seem daunting and dreadful, but you don’t have to live this way for much longer. Contact us today to speak with one of our registered physiotherapists and learn more about how our services can benefit you!
Why Do My Feet And Ankles Hurt?
Ankles and feet are extremely intricate and complex body parts that have to work together correctly in order to function well. The Arthritis Foundation states that the ankle joint consists of three bones that all must interact with one another properly, along with the various connective tissues that hold the assembly of the joint together. If these joints don’t work the way they’re supposed to, not only will you potentially experience pain in your ankles and feet, but you could also end up dealing with conditions up or down the chain as you compensate for the lack of normal movement at your ankle. Your gait and balance can be affected by pain in these parts of your body!
Did you know that your foot has 24 bones, 30 joints, and over 100 ligaments, tendons, and muscles? Because there are so many complex structures making up your feet and ankles, experiencing pain in those extremities is an issue many people suffer from. Sustaining an injury to your foot or ankle can be painful enough that you avoid putting your full weight down. This leaves you with two choices: hop around on one leg and risk hurting your other foot, or use a walking boot and a can, making getting around a real pain, and allowing your foot and ankle to get really stiff!
What Is The Source Of Foot And Ankle Pain?
Foot and ankle pain can happen seemingly out of nowhere after sustaining an acute injury, or it can slowly develop over the course of a few days, weeks, or months. There are several common causes of foot pain and ankle pain, including:
Fractures
A fracture is an outcome of receiving extreme force to a bone, causing it to split or break altogether. You’ll usually need 4-6 weeks of downtime in a cast or walking boot to make sure the fracture properly heals. When it’s time to begin to reintroduce stress, we are your experts!.
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis refers to irritation of the connective tissue in the soles of your feet. This may happen as a result of weak foot muscles, too much running or jumping too soon in a training program, or problems higher up your kinetic chain that put stress on the foot structures.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when a nerve that runs through the tarsal tunnel becomes swelled and inflamed.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a very common inflammatory condition that affects the joints and results in pain and reduced range of motion. The most common types include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both conditions can heavily impact the foot and ankle joints.
Sprains and strains
A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched too far or tears. A strain happens when a muscle or tendon becomes overstretched.
Fallen arches
Surprise! Fallen arches are a ‘problem’ that has been created for nothing. All the research we have on foot pain and proper footwear tells us that while there is an ‘average’ arch across the population, that average is made up of extremes. Some people have extremely loose, floppy, flat feet with no real arch at all. Some people have extremely rigid feet with a high arch, and some have the average arch. Guess which person has the most problems with foot pain?
Wait for it………….you can’t tell. All foot types have the same frequency of pain and loss of ability to participate in activities. Matching shoes to foot type doesn’t seem to help, either.
So, we concentrate on what has changed and what your body is having difficulty tolerating, rather than what it looks like when you are standing still not doing anything.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis usually occurs from too much work, too quickly, and the tendons become inflamed.
Is Physiotherapy The Right Option For My Foot And Ankle Pain?
If you’re dealing with pain from a chronic condition or an acute injury in your ankle or foot, it’s important to see a physiotherapist before going for expensive bracing or orthotics. You can find relief here at Amped Physiotherapy. Our physiotherapists will perform a thorough examination and pinpoint the source of your pain to create your very own specialized treatment plan.
Treatment plans include a mixture of specialized hands-on manual therapy techniques as well as targeted stretches and strength exercises in order to improve balance, relieve foot and ankle pain, and restore joint mobility. Your treatment plan may include exercises on a balance board, calf raises of different styles, and paying attention to how you turn the muscles on in your foot!. We will do all we can to ease your pain quickly, return you to the activities in which you want to participate, and give you lasting results. Your therapist will also recommend lifestyle changes for you, including advice on footwear to help prevent future injuries. Kiss that pain in the foot goodbye! You deserve to live your life, free from the limitations of pain. Contact Amped Physiotherapy today to schedule your appointment. We’ll help you get back on your feet in no time at all!
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