Foot and Ankle Pain
Many different things can cause ankle and foot pain, and this can quite literally stop us in our tracks. Here we’ll discuss the main causes of foot and ankle pain, and how physiotherapy can help.
The foot and ankle region is one of the most hard-working in the whole body. It is made up of 26 bones, 33 joints and a huge network of muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Along the sole of your foot runs your plantar fascia - a thick connective tissue that helps to support the arch of your foot.
The ankle is made up of the talocrural joint (between the talus bone and the tibia/fibula), the talonavicular joint (between the talus bone and the navicular), and the sub-talar joint (between the talus and the calcaneus). Each joint allows for a different range of movement.
Most cases of foot and ankle pain are short lived, and can be treated completely with physiotherapy. However, some cases of foot and ankle pain can persist and lead to ongoing problems.
YOU DON’T NEED TO GO AND SEE A GP FIRST!
Physiotherapists can assess and diagnose the cause of your ankle or foot pain. We have much longer to help you with your ankle of foot pain than a GP does, and can help you to understand how to manage your symptoms effectively.
How can physiotherapy help foot and ankle pain?
A physiotherapy assessment aims to understand what is causing your foot or ankle pain and ensures we rule out any serious conditions.
If you have had an injury, we will consider a referral for imaging such as an x-ray or MRI scan if we feel it is required. We have great links with the local GP surgeries, NHS and private hospitals and Cobalt Health.
We can usually diagnose your foot and ankle pain using a series of specialist tests.
After diagnosis, we work with you to create a tailored treatment plan. This tends to consist of a combination of rehabilitation exercises to restore movement and strength, and “hands on” techniques, such as:
Massage for sore or tight muscles in the calves and feet
Mobilisation/manipulation to improve stiff ankle and feet joints
Stretching techniques to improve movement and pain
Acupuncture for pain and tightness in the muscles surrounding the ankle and foot
We believe that knowledge is power, and we strive to understand the root cause of your pain, so that we can give you all the information you need to prevent the problem from re-occurring.
Get on top of your foot and ankle pain today and come see us at our physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham. Click below to book your first appointment!
Causes of foot and ankle pain
Here are just some of the things we treat in the foot and ankle:
Ankle sprain
Ankle sprains occur when you twist or roll on your ankle in an awkward way. This can happen during sports, or just walking on uneven terrain. The ligaments are stretched or torn in an ankle sprain, and this is most common in the ligaments on the outside of the foot. You can read more about ankle sprains here.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can occur at several joints in the ankle. Physiotherapy can help to relieve stiffness at the affected joints, and the joints above and below to ensure movement quality. It’s also important to keep muscles of the ankle as strong as possible with osteoarthritis, to support and stabilise the joint. You can read more about osteoarthritis of the ankle here.
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a very common condition, causing pain in the heel and the arch of your foot. The pain tends to be worse first thing in the morning and after exercise. It is caused by irritation of the connective tissue on the underside of the foot, that connects your heel bone to your toes, known as the plantar fascia. There is often a lot of tightness in this tissue, which physiotherapy can help to relieve. You can read more about plantar fasciitis here.
Dropped arches
There can be a number of causes for dropped arches in the feet, but the most common is a condition known as tibialis posterior dysfunction. This can be associated with pain, swelling and redness around the foot arch and is caused by inflammation, damage or weakness to the tendon. People with tibialis posterior dysfunction find it very hard to walk or stand for long periods of time due to pain. If left untreated, this can eventually lead to collapse of the foot arch. Physiotherapy can help to improve the arch position and pain by improving strength and function. You can read more about dropped arches here.
Ankle nerve injuries
There are several nerves of the foot and ankle, including the sural nerve, peroneal nerve and the tibial nerve. Injuries that stretch or compress the nerve can cause the nerve to break down. This can also occur when the nerve is under a repeated pressure for a long period of time. Nerve injuries can lead to long-term pain and scarring of the nerve if the pressure is not relieved. Physiotherapy helps to improve nerve mobility and reduce pressure on the area of entrapment. You can read more about trapped nerves in the ankle here.
Achilles pain
The Achilles tendon is situated at the back of the ankle, and connects your calf muscle with your heel bone. It is possible to tear this tendon through injury, which requires several months of physiotherapy rehabilitation, and sometimes surgical intervention. Another common cause of Achilles tendon pain is Achilles tendinitis, or tendinopathy, where the tendon begins to break down due to repetitive overuse. You can read more about achilles tendinopathy here.
Ankle fractures and pre/post operation
Ankle fractures can occur through injury, and these can either be treated with or without surgery. Sometimes surgery is completed for severe cases of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, or severe Achilles tears. Physiotherapy can help to rehabilitate you following these surgeries, and get you back to full fitness as quickly as possible. You can read more about ankle fractures here.
Not sure of the cause of your pain? Come to see us at our physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham! We can diagnose you and get you started on the road to recovery. Click below to book your first appointment!