3 steps a physical therapist can take to ease foot and ankle pain

The foot and ankle are complex structures that hold a lot of responsibility for bearing weight and moving the body. This means that any injury or condition that affects these areas can make walking difficult, if not impossible. 

Physical therapy for foot and ankle pain can help restore mobility, reduce pain and increase strength. But how exactly can it assist with these types of pain and offer these benefits?

3 ways PT experts can assist those suffering from foot or ankle discomfort

1. Assess the problem — The first step is having a physical therapist evaluate your condition to figure out what’s causing the issue.

2. Develop a custom treatment plan — After understanding the mechanical cause of your pain, your physical therapist will create an individualized treatment plan to address these underlying issues. This may include stretches and strengthening exercises as well as manual therapy techniques, such as joint mobilization.

3. Recommend lifestyle changes — Your daily activities may also be contributing to your foot and ankle pain. For example, if you spend all day on your feet in ill-fitting shoes with inadequate support, this can place extra stress on your joints and muscles that leads to discomfort. Your physical therapist may offer advice on how you can modify your behaviors to relieve pressure on these areas during the day.

3 techniques physical therapists may use for treatments

Here is where physical therapists move from assessment and treatment development to executing your customized plan.

1. Soft tissue and joint mobilization — These are hands-on therapy techniques that focus on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints of your body. They are used to decrease pain, increase range of motion, and improve function in your daily life or work.

2. Gait analysis — This kind of analysis is a clinical process of visually assessing and measuring an individual’s body movements. The goal is to identify any movement impairments that may cause pain or injuries. During gait analysis, your physical therapist examines your posture, joint motion, muscle strength and muscle length while you are walking.

3. Foot orthotics — These are custom-made insoles that are designed to correct your specific foot imbalance. The use of custom foot orthotics can be an integral part of treating foot and lower limb problems.

You can experience less pain in your feet and ankles thanks to PT plans that contain these and other techniques.

Do you need help with your foot and ankle pain? Armor PT can help

Are you suffering from foot and ankle pain? Don’t delay any longer. Contact us at Armor Physical Therapy to schedule a one-on-one consultation and comprehensive evaluation. Our physical therapists have helped many other patients who suffer from foot and ankle discomfort. We can help you, too. The path to your recovery is just a phone call away.