Foot and Ankle Pain
Why are feet and ankle problems so common?
Our feet bear the brunt of everything we do in our daily lives when standing. They absorb the shock impact of all of the steps, stumbles, and heavy jogging strikes that we put them through. And we do many of these while wearing high heels or other footwear with little or weak support.
In fact, the lower part of our body is such a complex interplay of bones, tendons, and joints that it shouldn’t be a surprise when some sort of problem eventually shows up. You probably won’t be able to “outrun” some level of ankle or foot pain in your lifetime, whether you’re a sports junkie or a couch potato. Ironically, both a very active lifestyle and an extremely sedentary one can lead to foot and ankle pain. Let’s not forget that aging is often a factor as well.
What types of conditions can be helped with physical therapy?
Problems in your feet can influence ankle pain and vice versa. These problems can also put stress on your knees, and throw off hip and spine alignment. For that reason, there are a number of problems addressed by physical therapy relating to feet and ankles. Conditions include:
- Balance and mobility issues
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Sprained ankles
- Collapsed arches
- Non-specific foot pain
- Arthritis of foot and ankle
- Sports injuries
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
What happens in physical therapy?
Our dedicated physical therapists are trained to evaluate what you will need based on existing medical information. Our physical therapist will also evaluate your walk and your ability to move your feet and ankles in various positions.
Because so many foot and ankle issues cause stiffness, stemming from inflammation, much of physical therapy will likely focus on flexibility and range of motion. In addition, if your ankles aren’t able to properly support your weight, strengthening exercises might also be an important part of your therapy.
Our team of physical therapists will also teach you how to improve your posture when walking and running, if gait issues are resulting from – or even causing – your foot and ankle pain.
Are you ready to take the “first steps” toward making the rest of those steps pain-free? Contact us today for an evaluation in Redmond so you can begin your journey to healthy, strong feet and ankles.
Be sure to check out our Health Blog for tips on managing pain and living a healthy life!