Can’t shake that tendon pain in your foot? Here are 6 physical therapy treatments that may help

Our feet go through a lot of wear and tear from absorbing the shock of our entire body weight as they make contact with the ground. Overusing your feet with too much exercise, weight or impact puts stress on the tendons or strong connective tissue that connects muscles to bones. This might happen if your job requires you to spend all day on your feet or if you wear shoes that don’t provide the right amount of support.

This article lists six physical therapy treatments that can help with pain and inflammation in your foot tendons.

What physical therapy treatments help with pain in the foot tendons?

Foot tendinitis is the inflammation of any of the tendons in your foot. There may be small tears in the tendons that turn into stiffness and scar tissue as they begin to heal. It can be painful, and people often feel it on the top or outside edge of their foot. The Achilles, peroneal, extensor and posterior tibial tendons are the four most commonly injured foot tendons.

To care for foot tendinitis at home, you can use the RICE method, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Try to avoid activities that cause pain in your feet while you’re recovering. If your shoes aren’t supportive enough, you may need to use shoe inserts (orthotics).

Physical therapy helps relieve foot tendinitis by increasing circulation in the feet, which speeds up the healing process. The following physical therapy treatments can help relieve pain from tendinitis in your feet:

• Manual therapy — Soft tissue mobilization and joint mobilization are both types of manual therapy that can help with foot tendinitis. Your PT will use their hands to reduce stiffness in your feet and bring fresh blood flow to tendons and tissue.
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) — IASTM tools are stainless steel ergonomic instruments. Your PT will use them to find and break down tissue tightness in the muscles and tendons of your foot.
• Dry needling — Dry needling is a targeted and precise procedure. Your PT will use thin, nonmedicated needles to stimulate deep tissue, speeding up your natural healing process.
• Kinesiology taping — If the muscles and tendons in your feet need more support as they heal, your PT may use kinesiology tape to keep them in place.
• Therapeutic stretching — Flexing and stretching your foot tendons with specific exercises can help restore movement and promote healing.
• Therapeutic exercises — Strengthening the muscles in your lower legs and feet to create balance can help you prevent further injury.

Find relief for foot tendon pain at Advent Physical Therapy

When left untreated, foot tendinitis can lead to chronic pain. You don’t have to keep suffering through it. At Advent Physical Therapy, we can help you determine what’s causing your foot pain and create a personalized treatment plan. If your feet are hurting, it’s best to seek treatment so you can keep working and enjoying your favorite activities with less pain.

Are you curious to learn more about how physical therapy can help with your foot pain? Let’s talk about it. Call us today to schedule a free 15-minute consultation or request an appointment. We’re here to help you get back on your feet.