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What is foot and ankle pain?

Foot and ankle pain is a common complaint that can significantly impact a person’s mobility and overall well-being. It refers to discomfort or soreness experienced in the structures of the foot and ankle, including the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Foot and ankle pain can arise from various causes and may vary in intensity, location, and duration.

Several conditions, such as Achilles Tendonitis or Plantar Fasciitis, can result in foot and ankle pain. One common cause is overuse or repetitive strain, which can result from running, walking long distances, or wearing ill-fitting shoes. Injuries can also cause foot and ankle pain. Sprained ankles, fractures, and ligament tears are frequently encountered injuries that can occur due to accidents, sports activities, or falls. These injuries can cause immediate pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking or bearing weight on the affected foot or ankle.

Other factors contributing to foot and ankle pain include flat feet, high arches, bunions, corns, calluses, nerve impingements, and infections. It’s essential to consult a healthcare professional if foot and ankle pain persists, worsens, or interferes with daily activities. A proper diagnosis can determine the underlying cause of the pain and guide appropriate treatment options.

A person's left foot with red across the bottom representing foot pain.
Plantar Fasciitis is a painful condition
Left foot being treated by doctor. Testing ankle and foot movement. Early treatment is important.
Treating at the first sign of stiffness is important
Incorrect running movement can lead to pain.

Types of foot and ankle injuries

Joint Sprain:

A joint sprain refers to the stretching or tearing of the ligaments that connect bones to each other. In the foot and ankle, sprains commonly occur in the ankle joint. They can result from a sudden twisting or wrenching motion, causing pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking or bearing weight on the affected joint. Treatment involves rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), pain medication, and manual therapy.

Tendonitis:

Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, the tissue that connects muscles to bones. It commonly affects the tendons in the foot and ankle, causing pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Overuse, repetitive motions, and injury are common causes. Treatment includes rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), pain medication, and manual therapy.

Muscle Strain:

A muscle strain occurs when a muscle or its tendons are overstretched or torn. In the foot and ankle, muscle strains can result from sudden movements, overexertion, or improper footwear. Symptoms include pain, swelling, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking or performing activities. Treatment involves rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), pain medication, and manual therapy.

 

Achilles Tendonitis:

Achilles tendonitis refers to the inflammation of the Achilles tendon, the large tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is commonly caused by overuse, excessive strain, or repetitive activities. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the back of the ankle. Treatment involves rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), manual therapy, pain medication, and sometimes orthotic devices or a walking boot.

  

Plantar Fasciitis:

Plantar fasciitis is a condition characterised by inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that supports the foot arch. It typically causes heel pain, especially with the first steps in the morning. Contributing factors include overuse, poor foot mechanics, and inadequate footwear. Treatment includes rest, ice, stretching exercises, orthotic devices, pain medication, and manual therapy.

Stress Fracture:

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone caused by repetitive stress or overuse most often caused by running. In the foot and ankle, stress fractures often occur in the metatarsal bones. Symptoms include localised pain, swelling, and difficulty bearing weight on the affected area. Treatment involves rest, immobilisation with a cast or walking boot, pain medication, and gradually resuming activity under medical supervision.

Fun exercises as part of rehab. Father and daughter doing squats in rock climbing gym
Maintain good ankle and foot movement throughout life.

How to Fix Common Foot and Ankle Injuries?

We treat acute and chronic foot and ankle pain at Five Dock Osteopathic and Chiropractic. Our approach is to go to the root cause of the problem.
 
Acute Foot and Ankle Pain Treatment
 
After diagnosing the root cause of your pain, the first step is always to restore any loss in movement.  This is achieved through targeted soft tissue massage and mobilisations of a few critical muscle and joint groups.  Our many years of experience have taught us that there are a few main areas to target to fix a foot or ankle injury. At this stage, it is important to educate you on what not to do during the pain phase of your care. 
 
The second step is to retrain your foot and ankle stability through carefully chosen exercises.  Remember, the foot and ankle joints are some of the most weight-bearing joints in the human body, so muscle strength is essential. 
 
Finally, we will educate you on the correct methods for using your hip, knee, foot and ankle to ensure you decrease the chance of re-injury.
 
Chronic Foot and Ankle Pain Treatment
 
Chronic foot and ankle pain is defined as pain that lasts for longer than three months. Like all chronic pain, chronic foot and ankle pain causes a change in your brain (alteration of the sensory processing by the brain leading to amplification of pain) Five Dock Osteopathic and Chiropractic have found that the key to fixing such pain is improved movement and retraining your stability from your hip all down the leg to your foot and ankle.  This, in turn, retrains your brain, so it no longer amplifies pain.  
 

Foot and Ankle Pain Treatment Methods

  • We have several unique methods for treating all kinds of foot and ankle pain:
     
    • In treating foot and ankle pain, we look at three main areas.  Firstly, the foot and ankle, as the restricted movement of your foot and ankle, affects your overall leg movement
    • Secondly, your hip joint, as most likely, you are misusing your hip muscles.  This creates incorrect leg movement and stress on the muscle, tendons and ligaments.  Your hip is the foundation for good leg, ankle and foot movement. 
    • Leading to the third region, the knee joint.  There is an intricate connection between your knee, ankle and foot.  We must address all the muscles and joints as they work together to create a smooth, safe movement for you. 
     
    • Foot and ankle stability through carefully tailored exercises guarantee long-term change.  We not only fix you. We equip you with the knowledge and skills to protect your legs, ankles and feet throughout every stage of life

What Makes Our Treatment Of Foot And Ankle Pain Unique

We have our own unique style of massage developed to complement our adjustments. We are experts at tracing the cause of foot and ankle pain to its source, and our treatment includes both the front of the not only the foot and ankle.  But your entire leg from the hip down.  This approach focuses on you as a whole person, not just a region in isolation, and so it brings you not only short-term relief from pain, but also lasting improvements to your health and well-being. Our adjustments all use traction, making them smooth and gentle on your body. We work with you to devise personalised functional exercises that you can use to strengthen your hip, knee, ankle and foot and build your stability.

What type of foot or ankle pain do you have?

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