Physical Therapy For Foot/Ankle Pain Glendale AZ
Stress Fracture In The Runner
Anatomy
Bone stress injury represents the inability of a bone to withstand repetitive loading, which results in structural fatigue and localized bone pain. This occurs commonly in the lower leg (tibia) in runners.
Who is at risk
We see this most commonly in runners but can be seen in other athletes as well as individuals who are taking repetitive load through their legs.
How Pt can help
This orthopedic and sports rehabilitation process is complex, it starts by correctly diagnosing the injury and then finding the root cause of the injury. Typically, the bone is taking excessive stress due to biomechanical breakdowns while running. We perform a comprehensive running analysis to determine these deficits and correct them. This allows the athlete to run more efficiently while keeping safe and being able to run at a high level pain free.
Plantar Fasciitis
Anatomy
The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous connective tissue in the arch of your foot, it starts at your heel and spreads in width, like a fan widening toward your toes. It has 3 distinct bands and is highly innervated with nerve endings. It functions to assist in keeping the arch of your foot, it is the truss of the foot when you are standing in weight bearing position.
Who is at risk
Approximately 1 in 10 people will suffer from plantar fasciitis, more common in 40-60’s, 15% of all adult foot complaints. It affects both athletic and non-athletic individuals and accounts for 8% of running injuries. BMI and the amount of time you spend on your feet during the day are risk factors.
How Pt can help
The plantar fascia is commonly known in the medical field as the black hole of foot and ankle disorders as it is challenging to treat. Common symptoms include pain with initial weight bearing after sitting or laying down, symptoms ease with walking but worse as day progresses. Sharp and localized pain in the arch of the foot, limping with gait. In therapy we teach individuals how to prepare the tissue for load so that more damage is not created every time you stand up. We also perform a complete leg exam to see if there are factors above the site of injury that may be contributing to the plantar fascia pain. We provide recommendations or foot wear and provide specific manual therapy interventions to reduce pain.
Achilles Tendonitis/Tear
Anatomy
Largest and strongest tendon in the human body. Two muscles form into one large tendon, the gastrocnemius (calf muscle) and the soleus. The Achilles takes 3.9x our body weight when walking and nearly 8x our body weight when running. The Achilles tendon has a large energy return component to walking and running, it uses its unique anatomy to return energy from the ground back up when it is stretched.
Who is at risk
Typically middle age (30-50) and more common in males than females. Higher level endurance athletes (runners). Common risk factors are limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (moving ankle upward). Decreased strength in your ankle flexors, diabetes, obesity, hypertension.
How PT can help
We can eliminate biomechanical faults and extrinsic risk factors such as inadequate shoes, training errors, ankle range of motion and strength. We perform activity modifications to reduce the inciting load to the Achilles and then rebuild the Achilles through specific therapeutic loading exercises referred to as eccentrics.
Total Ankle Replacement
Anatomy
A total ankle replacement has become more common in the United States over the past ten years. Outcomes are improving and patients can walk and move with higher quality following the latest total ankle replacement protocols. This procedure is an end stage procedure that is only considered when someone has severe osteoarthritis in the talocrural joint (ankle joint). During surgery they will remove the damaged bone/cartilage from the ankle and replace with new metal prosthetics.
Who is at risk
As we age we begin to see increase wear and tear of the talocrural joint (ankle), however, if we have been exposed to previous joint injury, BMI, Diabetes, or participated in cutting type sports we are at higher risk of developing osteoarthritis in this particular joint.
How PT can help
Typically after a total ankle replacement you will begin PT a few weeks after surgery, you can expect 8-12 weeks of physical therapy where we will first and foremost guide you through the surgical healing process. We will focus early on range of motion about the ankle, and progressive loading. We will normalize your walking pattern and the end stages will emphasize strength training.