Is foot and ankle pain dramatically affecting your life and even hindering your ability to carry out your daily routine and activities? Whether the cause is a broken bone, a sprain, arthritis or an overuse injury, you need your foot and ankle fully functioning in order to effectively move around. Contact our office for an appointment to find out how physical therapy can help you relieve or even eliminate your foot and ankle pain.
What Is Foot and Ankle Pain?
Your ankle and foot consist of 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 ligaments, tendons and muscles. This complex system carries the rest of your body weight and is sometimes under enormous strain as you twist, turn, and engage in a variety of movements throughout the day. Pain can occur in different areas such as the heel, the arch, the toes and various parts of the ankle. The pain can then affect your ability to move easily or even walk without discomfort. The pain may be accompanied by swelling, weakness, and instability when walking.
Causes of Foot and Ankle Pain
There are several conditions that can cause foot and ankle pain. The following are some of the more common causes of foot and ankle pain:
Plantar Fasciitis – This occurs when the band of tissues that run from the heel bone to the toes become inflamed.
Gout – This is a type of arthritis that causes severe and sudden pain, often occurring in the big toe.
Arthritis – Arthritis is a joint disease that affects millions of individuals and often causes pain and stiffness throughout the body, including the feet and ankles.
Sprains and Strains – Sprains, tearing or stretching of a ligament as well as strains, tearing or stretching of tendons and muscles are a common cause of foot and ankle pain.
Broken Foot and Ankle – There are several bones in the foot and ankle that can become broken due to a traumatic event or a long-term stress fracture over time. Symptoms may include throbbing pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking or bearing weight on the foot.
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
A physical therapist can put together a physical therapy program that can decrease your pain and help you recover from whatever type of condition you’re suffering from. A physical therapist can help you achieve the following results if you have any type of foot and ankle pain:
Reduce Pain – A physical therapist can use ice, heat, ultrasound, and massage to reduce swelling and pain in your ankles and feet. A physical therapy routine specifically created to meet your needs can help you heal faster and lessen pain.
Improve Balance – Learning ways to restore balance and walk more carefully can assist in reducing falls and limit future injuries. Physical therapy techniques can help you improve the way you walk and assist you in moving effectively.
Increase Strength and Flexibility – Strength and flexibility work together to enable you to move efficiently and effortlessly. A variety of exercises developed for your specific condition can build your strength while keeping your feet and ankles as flexible as possible.
Reduce Chance of Future Injury – According to WebMD, those who have suffered from a sprained ankle have a 70 percent chance of being injured again. Whether you’ve suffered a sprain or any other type of injury, a physical therapist can provide exercises and other therapy techniques to keep injuries from reoccurring.
An experienced physical therapist has the skills and knowledge to create a specific plan to reduce your pain while helping you get back to your regular activities. Your physical therapist can also give you customized exercises to do at home. Whether your goals are to return to a particular sporting activity or your job or to simply move more effectively with minimal to no pain, physical therapy can assist you in achieving those goals. Make an appointment today to see how our team of physical therapists can help you move with more ease while experiencing less pain! For more information, Contact Us Today at Windham and Goffstown, NH Centers.