Kicking Foot and Ankle Pain For Good!
Get Your Feet Back Under You With The Help of Physical Therapy
Most of us spend a good amount of time using our feet every day. Obviously, we have to stand up, walk, and run, right? If you are suffering from foot and ankle pain, your quality of life can be greatly impacted.
Foot and ankle pain can stem from a variety of different causes, but there is good news ahead! Full Circle Physical Therapy can help get to the source of your pain, and get you back up on your feet in no time.
Dealing with pain in your feet or ankles can cause dread and agony when taking the stairs, walking a block to your office, or even driving your car. Physical therapy has been proven to help with the rehabilitation of injured extremities, in addition to providing relief for both acute and chronic pain.
Call our clinic today to speak with one of our licensed and skilled Monterey physical therapists to learn more about how our services can benefit you!
Common causes of foot and ankle pain
The feet and ankles are complex structures. There are tons of reasons you might be experiencing pain in them. Foot and ankle pain can occur suddenly due to an acute injury, or it can develop over time in relation to a chronic, underlying condition.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several common causes of foot pain and ankle pain, including, but not limited to the following:
Arthritis
Arthritis is a very common inflammatory condition that affects the joints and results in pain. The most common types include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both types of arthritis can greatly impact the foot and ankle joints.
Arthritis can also affect anyone at any age.
Fallen arches
Your foot contains several tendons that work together to form your arch. When the tendons pull together properly, your foot will form a proper arch. However, when the tendons do not pull together properly, your foot will form a very small arch, or no arch at all. This is referred to as “fallen arch” or “flat foot” and can cause pain or discomfort with time.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis occurs from excessive overuse of the tendons, causing them to become inflamed for a long time. Tendinitis can pose challenges to even the simplest of activities, such as reaching to grab a glass from the top shelf of the cabinet or bending down to pick up a dropped item. To make it worse, tendinitis can worsen over time, becoming chronic and incredibly painful.
Strains and sprains
Sprains and strains happen often, and oftentimes, they get confused with each other! A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched too far or torn, while a strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is stretched too far. Both of these injuries should be checked out by a medical professional to ensure no lasting damage will occur.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tarsal tunnel (the nerve that runs from the ankle to the foot) becomes pinched and painfully inflamed. Symptoms include sharp, shooting pains, feelings of “pins and needles” and burning sensations in the feet.
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis happens when the connective tissue on the bottom of the feet becomes inflamed. This can occur from aggravated overuse, such as constant standing, improper posture, or footwear that lacks proper arch support.
Fractures
A fracture occurs from excessive force or trauma to the bone, causing it to crack or break entirely. A fracture to the foot or ankle could result in weeks of downtime to ensure proper healing.
Bursitis
Bursitis occurs when the tendons rub against the “bursae” or anti-friction sacs, causing them to become irritated and uncomfortable. This condition can also occur in a person’s elbow, shoulder, and hip, although the foot and heel are most commonly affected.
Why foot and ankle pain is a concern
Your feet and your ankles are complex mechanical structures that must work together in harmony in order to function the way they should. The foot contains approximately two dozen bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Because of all the complicated structures that make up your feet and ankles, pain in those areas is a very common affliction.
There are several things that can happen to you to cause foot and ankle pain. An injury to your foot or ankle can result in pain so severe that you avoid putting your weight down.
This generally leaves you with only two options, both of which are pretty bad: hopping around, risking injury to your other foot, or worse, being stuck in a chair, unable to go anywhere, and take care of yourself or others. Even mild pain can cause physical limitations in your daily life!
How can physical therapy help with foot and ankle pain?
If you or a loved one are suffering from foot and ankle pain, there is relief to be found here at Full Circle Physical Therapy! Rest assured we’ll have you back on your feet in no time at all.
During your first appointment, our Monterey physical therapists will complete a thorough evaluation to confirm what is causing your pain, and then they will create a personalized treatment plan for your condition.
Most treatment plans include a combination of specialized hands-on manual therapy techniques, exercises, and stretching, in order to restore joint mobility, improve balance, and strengthen the foot and ankle muscles.
It might also include exercises on a balance board, as well as other specialized services. Rest assured that we will do all we can to ease your pain quickly and boost your circulation.
We will also re-evaluate as time goes on and recommend lifestyle changes or orthotic footwear to prevent more re-injury or problems in the future.
