Foot and ankle pain can be the result of a multitude of reasons; symptoms of pain and dysfunction can be due to traumatic injury, overuse activities, improper footwear and genetic anomalies. These injuries may be debilitating causing changes in how one can perform their daily activities. After an injury has occurred the individual has an increased chance of sustaining future foot and ankle injuries.
Traumatic injuries of the foot and ankle most commonly include sprains and fractures. An ankle sprain is classified as an inflammatory condition of a single ligament or multiple ligaments of the ankle in which some integrity of the ligament may have been lost to stretching or partially tearing. Once a person has sustained an ankle sprain left untreated their chances of having future ankle sprains increase. Players with a history of ankle injury were almost five times more likely to sustain an ankle injury according to British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2001.
Overuse injuries occur when repetitive forces are placed on the tissue causing inflammation and pain. Injuries that fall under this classification include plantar fasciitis and tendonitis. Web MD describes plantar fasciitis as the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is the flat band of tissue (ligament) that supports the arch of your foot. If you strain your plantar fascia, through excessive repetitive forces then your heel or the bottom of your foot hurts when you stand or walk.
Foot biomechanics play a large roll in the health of a person’s foot and ankle,”The Journal of Orthopedic Sports Physical Therapy”, reports that proper arthrokinematic movement within the foot and ankle influences the ability of the lower limb to reduce the forces of weight bearing. If the foot biomechanics are not within normal limits either too much force is absorbed leading to inflammation of excessive use and if too little force is absorbed injuries of the lower extremities occur such as stress fractures.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for the Foot/Ankle
The therapists of Motion Physical Therapy supply treatments that help promote your body’s natural healing processes during the recovery phase of an injury.
Common Diagnosis for Foot/Ankle Pain:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Achilles Tendinitis
- Posterior Tibialis tendinopathy
- Anterior Talo Fibular Ligament (ATFL) Injury
- Posterior Talo Fibular Ligament (PTFL) Injury
- Stress Fractures
- Bunions
- Osteoarthritis
- Degenerative Joint Disease
- Forefoot Neuromas
- Ankle Sprain/Strain Injuries
Foot/Ankle Treatment Options:
