Physical Therapy is Your Key to Ankle Pain Relief
When was the last time you thought about your ankle? While ankle pain doesn’t get as much attention as knee or hip pain, it’s still common, with over 40% of the population experiencing it at some point in their lives. If your ankle pain interferes with your day-to-day life, physical therapy at Full Potential Physical Therapy can help!
For most people, ankle pain results from sprains, tendonitis, and fractures. While these injuries usually aren’t serious, an injured ankle can still severely impact your mobility, especially when the pain makes it difficult for you to bear weight on the joint. Other common symptoms of ankle pain include swelling and stiffness.
Our therapists offer a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to ankle pain relief. We’ll work with you to identify the exact reason for your pain, then create a tailored treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. Through strengthening exercises, mobility work, and pain management techniques, we’ll help you get the results you’re looking for.
Whether you’re a competitive athlete or simply looking to maintain an active lifestyle, ankle pain can profoundly impact your everyday life. At Full Potential Physical Therapy, we’ll ensure your ankle pain no longer holds you back.
Experience the benefits of a customized physical therapy program–request your appointment today!
Common Causes of Ankle Pain
To effectively treat ankle pain, it’s essential to understand some of its common causes. Here are just a few of the reasons your ankle might be hurting:
Ankle Sprain
Ankle sprains are one of the most common reasons for ankle pain. A sprain occurs when the ligaments that help stabilize the ankle are stretched or torn. They often result from a sudden twist or impact and can cause swelling, bruising, limited mobility, and difficulty walking.
Achilles Tendinitis
Another frequent source of ankle pain is Achilles tendinitis, the inflammation of the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle. This condition is typically brought on by overuse or repetitive stress, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced flexibility.
Fractures
Fractures, commonly known as broken bones, can create significant discomfort, swelling, and difficulty bearing weight on the affected ankle. In some cases, the fracture might occur due to repetitive impact on the joint, leading to a stress fracture.
Arthritis
Different types of Arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout, can also contribute to ankle pain. These conditions lead to the degeneration of joint cartilage, resulting in inflammation, stiffness, and discomfort during movement.
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD)
This condition involves damage to the tendon that supports the foot’s arch, leading to pain, swelling, and a flattening of the foot arch, affecting your gait and overall stability.
When you come into our Holland, MI physical therapy clinic, our experts will identify if your ankle pain is caused by one of these conditions or something else. Regardless of the cause, we’ll work to help restore your body’s balance, strength, and flexibility.
Call (616) 392-2172 today to request an appointment with one of our specialists!
Physical Therapy’s Approach to Alleviating Your Ankle Pain
Physical therapy at Full Potential Physical Therapy offers an evidence-based approach to finding relief from your ankle pain, with a focus on helping you to regain strength, mobility, and overall function. We provide treatments that work so you can see the results you’re looking for.
When you come in for your initial consultation, our expert physical therapists will perform a comprehensive assessment. We’ll discuss your medical history and symptoms and conduct a hands-on physical evaluation that examines your strength, range of motion, gait patterns, and more.
Once we have a complete picture of your needs, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan based on your condition, symptoms, and rehabilitation goals. While our treatment programs will vary, you can expect them to include one or more of the following:
- Manual Therapy: This hands-on technique involves the physical therapist applying pressure and mobilization to the affected joint, muscles, and soft tissue to reduce pain, increase range of motion, and improve flexibility.
- Therapeutic Exercises: We’ll design customized exercises to target specific muscle groups, enhancing strength, flexibility, and endurance. These exercises also aid in the recovery of your ankle by promoting blood flow and reducing inflammation.
- Balance and Proprioceptive Training: Improving your balance and proprioception (the awareness of your body’s position in space) is crucial for preventing future injuries and restoring optimal function. Our physical therapists will guide you through exercises to help improve these essential skills.
- Gait Retraining: Our therapists will analyze your walking patterns to identify any abnormalities that may be contributing to your ankle pain. We’ll then provide specific exercises and lifestyle modifications to correct any gait impairments, helping to minimize discomfort.
- Modalities: Depending on your needs, we may also use various modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and cold or heat therapy to alleviate pain, minimize inflammation, and facilitate the healing process.
At Full Potential Physical Therapy, our dedicated physical therapists know you want to return to the activities you love. With our results-oriented approach, we’ll ensure your recovery is swift, efficient, and long-lasting.
A Better Life is Only Four Steps Away
Physical therapy can be an unfamiliar experience for many. To orient new patients to the process, we have divided their rehab journey into four segments called “The Four Phases of Getting Better.” It is important to note that while there are four phases utilized over the course of your care, they are not totally separate. They move gradually toward greater strengthening and function, which is the end goal to return confidently to the life you desire to live.1
Pain Relief
The first focus in getting better is pain relief. After your evaluation, your physical therapist will use hands-on techniques or manual therapy, light therapeutic exercise, and education on how to modify your activity and posture in order to give you more control over your pain. In this stage, modalities like ice, heat, myofascial release, electric stimulation and kinesiotape may be used.
2
Improve Mobility/Flexibility
The second step in this method is to improve mobility and flexibility. Your therapist will design a progressive program of range of motion and light stretching to restore mobility and reduce pain.
3
Improve Strength/Control
In the third step of this method, muscle weakness will be addressed to help you maintain the gains and momentum you achieve through phases one and two. A thorough strengthening process is the step that gives results that last, and this will prepare you for more functional training – the final step.
4
Functional Training
Now that your pain is resolved and you have the necessary mobility and strength, your program can be advanced into functional training. Whether you are returning to work, returning to life after post-op rehabilitation, getting back into recreation or sports, or simply returning to the activities of daily life, this step helps ensure your success after graduation and empowers you to be confident in your abilities again.
Reach Your Full Potential & Live Pain-Free!
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