Foot and Ankle Pain
Physical Therapy in Colorado Springs Can Help
Moving Around Shouldn’t be a Chore!
Most of us spend a significant amount of time using our legs every day. We’re supposed to be able to stand, walk, and run, right? Foot and ankle pain can have a negative impact on your quality of life. It can occur for a variety of reasons, but there is hope: Joint Effort Physical Therapy can assist you in locating the source of your pain and getting you back on your feet ASAP.
When you are living with foot or ankle pain, it can be frightening to take the stairs, walk down the street, or even drive your car.
Fortunately, physical therapy has been shown to help with the rehabilitation of injured extremities as well as the relief of acute and chronic pain.
How can a physical therapist relieve my foot/ankle pain?
If you or a loved one has been noticing foot or ankle pain, Joint Effort Physical Therapy can help! You can be confident that we will have you back on your feet in no time.
During your initial appointment, your physical therapist will perform a thorough assessment to determine the source of your pain and then create a personalized treatment plan for your condition.
The majority of our treatment plans incorporate specialized hands-on manual therapy techniques, exercises, and stretches to restore joint mobility, improve balance, and strengthen the foot and ankle muscles.
We will do everything in our power to alleviate your discomfort and improve your strength and circulation, so you can get back to moving with ease.
We will also re-evaluate your treatment plan over time and may recommend lifestyle changes or orthotics to prevent re-injury or additional problems in the future.
Why did I develop a foot/ankle injury?
Your feet and ankles are complex mechanical structures that must function in tandem with one another.
The foot contains a dozen bones, 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Because of all of the complicated structures that make up these structures, pain in your feet and ankles is very common.
A variety of events in your life may cause foot and ankle pain. An injury to the foot or ankle can cause excruciating pain and make it difficult to bear weight on the affected area. Even minor pain can lead to physical limitations in your daily life.
However, with physical therapy, we can help you ease these limitations so you can move around more comfortably.
What’s causing my foot/ankle pain?
The legs and ankles are complex structures. There are tons of reasons why you may have developed pain.
Foot and ankle pain may occur suddenly due to acute injury or may develop over time due to chronic underlying conditions.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several common causes of foot pain and ankle pain, including, but not limited to the following:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Contact us to get moving with ease once again!
Don’t let foot and ankle pain control your life. You should be able to move without pain!
Our Colorado Springs, CO physical therapy practice will help you regain your mobility, comfort, and overall function while also removing painful restrictions.
Please contact Joint Effort Physical Therapy today to schedule an appointment. We’ll get you back up and running as soon as possible!