- Shin Splints
- Ankle Sprain
- Achilles Tendinitis
- Calf Muscle spasm/Tightness
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Heel/Calcaneal Spur
- Post-Operative Foot and Ankle Rehabilitation
How can Physiotherapy treat foot and ankle pain?
Our physiotherapists at “BetterLife Physiotherapy” ” will conduct a thorough examination to find what is causing your pain, and then a personalized treatment plan will be created for you specifically. Your treatment plan will typically 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. Your treatment plan may also include exercises on a balance board, as well as other specialized services and relevant therapeutic tools and machines.
There are several common causes of foot pain and ankle pain, including:
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is composed of longitudinally organized connective tissue which originates on the heel bone where it is thinner but it extends into a thicker central portion into five divisions as it passes all 5 metatarsal heads. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation in the connective tissue on the bottom of your foot. This can occur from overuse, such as constant standing, improper posture, or footwear that lacks proper arch support. Plantar fasciitis is commonly felt as burning or sharp pain when standing on the affected leg. This typically occurs first thing in the morning or with initial standing after sitting for a prolonged period. Inflammation builds up during the day in the fascia.
Heel Spur
A calcaneal spur, or commonly known as a heel spur, occurs when a bony outgrowth forms on the heel bone. Calcaneal spurs can be located at the back of the heel or under the sole (plantar heel spur) Heel spurs often cause no symptoms. But heel spurs can be associated with intermittent or chronic pain especially while walking, jogging, or running if inflammation develops at the point of the spur formation. In general, the cause of the pain is not the heel spur itself but the soft-tissue injury associated with it.
Fallen Arches
The foot has three arches: two longitudinal (inner and outer) arches and one at the front arch. These arches are formed by the bones and are supported by the ligaments and tendons in the foot. A flat foot is the loss of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. “Fallen Arch” or “Flat Foot” and can cause pain or discomfort with time.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an injury of the tibial nerve. The tunnel lies Symptoms include pain radiating into the foot, usually, this pain is worsened by walking.
Bursitis
Bursitis occurs when the muscles /tendons rub the “bursae” or anti-friction sacs, causing them to become irritated and uncomfortable.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis occurs from injury of the tendons, causing them to become inflamed/irritant for a long time.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a 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.
Ankle Sprains
Sprains refer to injuries of the ligaments (connect bone to bone). It occurs from quick overstretching of the tissues causing micro-tearing and subsequent injury. Swelling begins as part of the inflammation process, causing pain and difficulty with movement.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendinopathy is an overuse injury caused by repetitive overuse of the Achilles tendon (end part of calf muscle). This can lead to a sudden injury, or in the worst case, can cause a rupture of the Achilles tendon. lack of flexibility or a stiff Achilles tendon can increase the risk of these injuries.
Ankle Instability
Ankle instability typically occurs after the ligaments in the ankle have injured, losing the normal stability of the bones in the ankle and foot. This can be a result of an injury or occur over a long period of time from poor foot positioning, bad shoe wear or genetics.
Ankle and Foot Fractures
There are many bones that can be fractured in the ankle and foot complex. Fractures are typically immobilized with casting or bracing. In severe cases surgery may be required to align and stabilize the bone with pins or plates. After being immobile for a period of time whether from casting or surgery, the ankle and foot joints will become quite stiff. This loss of motion in the joint also causes discomfort and results in lost muscle strength in the ankle and foot, where physiotherapy management is important to regain the range of motion and muscle strength back
Foot and Ankle Post-surgery Rehab
There are many different surgeries for the foot and ankle from fracture repairs to tissue repair from trauma and more. After surgery, due to limited post-operative movement and inflammation from the surgery, your range of motion and strength will be diminished. At “BetterLife Physiotherapy” we understand that and can work hard to let you regain your range and balance while keeping all your surgeon’s recommendations/precautions.
Physiotherapy Management
At “BetterLife Physiotherapy”, we first evaluate the injured area to determine the extent of the injury affecting the ligaments or tendons, posture, walking pattern, ankle and foot mobility. Then, we formulate a treatment plan that will target your impairment, relieve your swelling, pain and begin restoring range of motion. The goal of physiotherapy is to restore your normal range of motion and eventually restore normal strength. If you participate in sports or are very active, we will work closely with you to make sure that you fully recover and can participate in those activities. Also, at Better Life Physiotherapy we are keen on patient education regarding the mechanism of injury with the relevant advice and recommendation and exercises to be applied at home.
Our gentle hands-on therapy is great for soothing the irritated tissue in the foot and also improving range of motion in the foot and ankle joints. Modalities, such as shockwave therapy (SWT) ultrasound (US) and ice/heat application may be used to reduce swelling and pain quickly. Our goal is to reduce your pain quickly and strengthen your feet for long-term results. With years and years of training in analyzing and treating joint mechanics, walking and movement, we put together a custom treatment plan that will improve your ankle stability. We focus on treatments to resolve your pain quickly, improve your joint mobility and strengthen muscles as needed. The result is the ability to walk and run without pain in the back of your heel returning to the activities you love to do.
Sports Injuries
Whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, it is important to stay safe while performing your sport. Any injury sustained during physical activity can be categorized as a sports injury. At “BetterLife Physiotherapy”, we’re here to get you off the sidelines and back in the game! With our licensed physiotherapists and their hands-on physiotherapy services at “BetterLife Physiotherapy” , we provide a professional range of therapy treatments to accelerate your recovery process.
How will physiotherapy help my sports injury?
Our physiotherapists will design an individualized treatment plan for you based on your specific needs, in order to help get you back in the game as fast as possible. Treatment plans will take into account the nature of your injury, your fitness level, and your lifestyle.
Your plan will likely include manual therapy to increase your range of motion and reduce scar tissue, stretches to improve balance and mobility, and strengthening exercises to enhance the injured area, as well as its surrounding areas. These are all done to help you recover after your sports injury and to prevent further injuries from occurring in the future.
Strain or “Pulled Muscle”
A strain also referred to as a “pulled muscle,” occurs when a tendon connecting your muscle to bone is stretched beyond its limits. Once the tendon is overstretched, it is more likely that it will be strained once again.
Shin Splints
The medical term for shin splints is “medial tibial stress syndrome,” referring to pain that is felt in the shin bones. This pain is typically caused by stress placed on the shinbone and the connective tissues surrounding it. Shin splints are painful and often debilitating; however, they can be avoided by wearing proper footwear, warming up before exercise, and strengthening your core and leg muscles.
Why did you develop a sports injury?
“Sports injury” is a broad term including any type of injury that occurs while performing athletic activity. It can happen just the same by lifting heavy weights at the gym or running in ill-fitted shoes, as it can by swinging a bat too aggressively or rolling your ankle on the soccer field.
One of the most important aspects of rehabilitating a sports injury is treating it as soon as possible. Your treatment plan and duration of recovery will vary depending on how severe the injury is, your health history, and whether or not the injury requires surgical intervention.
