Foot and Ankle Pain

Ready to Move Comfortably Once Again? Find Relief for Foot and Ankle Pain

Discover How Physical Therapy Can Help You Relieve Your Pain

Most of us spend a good amount of time using our legs every day. Obviously, we have to stand up, walk, and run, don’t we? If you are suffering from foot and ankle pain, your quality of life can be greatly affected.

Foot and ankle pain may be caused by a variety of causes, but there’s good news ahead! Total Body Physical Therapy can help you get to the source of your pain and get you back on your feet in no time.

Dealing with pain in your legs or ankles can cause dread and agony when you take the stairs, walk a block to your office, or even drive your car. Physical therapy has been shown to help with the rehabilitation of injured extremities, in addition to providing relief for both acute and chronic pain.

Call our clinic today to talk to one of our licensed and qualified Sarasota physical therapists to learn more about how our services can benefit you!

Will physical therapy help me find relief for my foot and ankle pain?

If you or a loved one suffers from foot and ankle pain, there is relief to be found here at Total Body Physical Therapy! Rest assured that we’ll get you back on your feet in no time at all.

During your first appointment, our physical therapists will complete a thorough biomechanical assessment to confirm what causes your pain, and then create a personalized treatment plan for your condition.

Most treatment plans include a combination of specialized hands-on manual therapy techniques, exercises, and stretches to restore joint mobility, improve balance, and strengthen the foot and ankle muscles. Rest assured that we will do everything 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 orthotics to prevent further re-injury or problems in the future.

What should I know about foot and ankle pain?

Your feet and ankles are complex mechanical structures that need to work together in harmony to function as they should. The foot contains approximately two dozen bones, 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Due to all the complicated structures that make up your legs and ankles, pain in these areas is very common.

There are a number of things that can happen to you that can cause foot and ankle pain. A foot or ankle injury can result in pain that is so severe that it becomes hard to bear weight on the affected area.

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.  Even mild pain can lead to physical limitations in your daily life.

Do you have any of these conditions?

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.

Ready to get started on your treatments?

Don’t let the pain of your foot and ankle take over your life. You deserve to walk and run, free of pain!  Our Sarasota physical therapy practice will help you regain your own mobility, comfort, and overall function, free from pain limitations.

Contact Total Body Physical Therapy today to request your appointment. We’re going to help you get back on your feet ASAP!