Walk Comfortably Again with Foot and Ankle Pain Relief
Every day, most of us spend a significant amount of time using our legs. We must stand, walk, and run, right? If you have foot and ankle pain, it can harm your quality of life.
Foot and ankle pain can be caused by a variety of factors, but there is some good news! Lumina Wellness & Physical Therapy can assist you in locating the source of your pain and getting you back on your feet as soon as possible.
When you have pain in your feet or ankles, it can be nerve-racking to take the stairs, walk down the street, or even drive your car. Physical therapy has been shown to aid in the rehabilitation of injured extremities as well as the relief of both acute and chronic pain.
Call our clinic today to speak with one of our licensed and qualified Wilmington physical therapists about how our services can help you!
Common conditions leading to foot and 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:
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 becomes pinched and painfully inflamed. The tarsal tunnel is the nerve that runs from the ankle to the foot.
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.
What causes foot and ankle pain to develop?
Your feet and ankles are complex mechanical structures that must work in tandem to function properly. The foot has about a dozen bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Pain in your feet and ankles is very common due to all of the complicated structures that make up these structures.
A variety of events can occur in your life that can cause foot and ankle pain. A foot or ankle injury can cause excruciating pain that makes it difficult to bear weight on the affected area.
This generally leaves you with only two options, both of which are bad: hopping around and risking injury to your other foot, or worse, being stuck in a chair and unable to move. Even minor pain can cause physical limitations in your day-to-day life.
How does physical therapy help relieve foot and ankle pain?
If you or a loved one has been living with foot and ankle pain, there is help available at Lumina Wellness Physical Therapy! Rest assured that we will have you back on your feet in no time.
During your first appointment, your physical therapist will conduct a thorough assessment to determine the source of your pain and then develop a personalized treatment plan for your condition.
Most treatment plans combine specialized hands-on manual therapy techniques, exercises, and stretches to restore joint mobility, improve balance, and strengthen the foot and ankle muscles.
Your treatment plan may also include balance-sheet exercises and other specialized services. We will do everything possible to relieve your pain and improve your circulation.
We will also re-evaluate your treatment plan over time and recommend lifestyle changes or orthotics to prevent future re-injury or problems.
Begin your path toward relief today
Don’t let your foot and ankle pain rule your life. You deserve to be able to walk and run without pain! Our Wilmington physical therapy practice will help you regain your mobility, comfort, and overall function.
Please make an appointment with Lumina Wellness Physical Therapy today. We’ll get you back on your feet as soon as possible!