Information everyone should know about foot and ankle pain

Your feet and ankles team up to take on the very important responsibility of supporting your body. If your feet or ankles are hurt, then walking or standing can become challenging or impossible.

Your feet and ankles are complex parts of your body that are made of more than 100 ligaments, tendons and muscles, 30 joints and 26 bones. With so many intricate pieces, it’s important for you to take care of your feet and ankles because the rest of your body wouldn’t be upright without them.

You may need professional assistance from a health care professional, like a physical therapist, if you’re suffering from foot or ankle pain. If ignored, some issues that cause pain in these areas can lead to more severe conditions or permanent disability.

Causes of foot and ankle pain

As mentioned before, your feet and ankles are complex, so there are many causes of pain that you should be aware of. Some of the most common causes of foot and ankle pain include:

• Sprains
• Fractures
• Nerve damage
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Blood clots

Regardless of the cause of your lower limb pain, you should seek professional help if the symptoms become serious. In most cases, physical therapy can help reduce pain and restore the functionality of your feet and ankles.

Treating foot and ankle pain

Treatments for foot and ankle pain will vary depending on the cause of your pain, your age, your medical history and other personal factors. Many treatments include medication and physical therapy, but extreme cases may require surgery.

Physical therapy for the feet and ankles can help reduce pain and inflammation and restore strength and mobility. Many physical therapy plans for foot and ankle pain include:

• Manual therapy — This technique involves your physical therapist using their hands to apply pressure to injured areas. It can also include your physical therapist moving the injured area without assistance from you. Foot and ankle injuries respond well to this therapy method. One medical study reveals that a therapy plan that included manual therapy reduced ankle sprain       pain by about 70% in just four weeks. 

• McKenzie Method^® — The McKenzie Method is intended to evaluate issues and treat them. It also focuses on helping patients learn self-care techniques that can help prevent their issue from recurring. This treatment option is very effective for foot and ankle issues. Researchers report that the McKenzie Method help reduce Achilles tendinitis pain by up to 90% after just three           sessions. 

In cases when you require surgery, you should still find a physical therapist. Physical therapy can help you prepare for an upcoming surgery and recover more fully and quickly afterward.

Find help for your foot and ankle pain at Advent Physical Therapy

Tired of living with foot and ankle pain? Our team at Advent Physical Therapy is ready and willing to help you find effective treatment. We offer free screenings that can reveal the cause of your pain. Our physical therapists also excel at creating therapy plans that are personalized to your symptoms and recovery goals. We can even help you get therapy from home thanks to our virtual care and at-home therapy services. 

Contact our team today for more information about our physical therapy services or to schedule your free screening.