Foot And Ankle Pain Physiotherapy Downtown Edmonton

These little things eventually cause pain in our ankles and foot. Pain in the foot and ankle can easily be treated with a physiotherapy regimen. In Step Physical Therapy in Edmonton has the best physiotherapists who discharge their duties with utmost care. They can help you recover from your foot and ankle pain by carrying out a diagnosis on you. After this, a treatment plan will be created to help manage your foot and ankle pain effectively.

So, if you stay in Edmonton or its surroundings, you can book an appointment with us. You can also contact us today via call at (587) 409-1754  or email us at INFO@INSTEPPHYSIO.CA

What do you need to know about the foot and ankle?

The ankle 

The ankle is a part of the leg surrounding the point of attachment to the foot and the far-end portion of the leg. The ankle joint comprises the fibula, tibia, and talus bone. The ankle covers the ankle joint ( a central point of connection between the fibula and tibia of the leg and the talus of the foot). The ankle ensures the movement of the foot up and down. And at the same time, the side-to-side movement of the foot is aided by the subtalar joint sitting below the ankle. Also, tough tissues known as ligaments encompass the subtalar joints and the true ankle joining the bones of the leg to one another.

The foot

The foot is a flexible anatomical structure comprising of bones, muscles, soft tissues, and joints that enable us to stand properly and perform simple activities like jumping, running, and walking. The foot is separated into three parts, namely:

• The forefoot- is made up of phalanges(our five toes) and five metatarsals.
• The midfoot- form the arches of the feet, making the pyramid-like a collection of bones.
• The hindfoot-which makes up the ankle and heel.

The heel bone(calcaneus) happens to be the largest in the foot. The foot and ankle bones are surrounded by various tissues, which can easily be damaged under pressure. These damages might take time to recover from with self-treatment. 

However, with the help of specialists like physiotherapists, you will be on the journey to recovery in no time. At In Step Physical Therapy, we have physical therapists that are always ready to take care of your needs.

What are the possible symptoms of foot and ankle pain?

The symptoms of foot and ankle pain may not be obvious for a while. However, when they become obvious, below are the possible symptoms to expect:

• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Stiffness
• Discoloration
• Pain from standing or sitting too long
• Bony growth in the heel

What can cause pain in my foot and ankle?

Most times, the cause of your foot and ankle pain may not be known. However, the most common cause of pain in your foot and ankle are wear and tear, arthritis, and injuries.

With this said, there are a lot of reasons why you are bound to feel pain in your foot and ankle. These reasons include:

• Achilles tendinopathy

This occurs as a result of inflammation and damage in the tendon connecting the calf to the heel bone. This mostly happens to middle-aged people who engage in sporting activities only on weekends and Athletes. It causes a lot of swelling, pain, and stiffness, and this might take time to heal. You can recover faster with the help of professionals at In Step Physical Therapy in Edmonton.

• Tibialis posterior dysfunction

Tibialis posterior dysfunction is caused by damage, weakness, or inflammation which stretches the tendon out of position. It causes inflammation and pain in the tendon running from the calf to the arch of the foot. The arch of your foot eventually drops if the swelling and pain in the tendon cause your ankle or heel to feel weak. 

This condition makes standing for a long period and walking difficult. It might become worse if you are an active runner or jumper.

• Plantar fasciitis

This causes pain inside the heel. It happens as a result of damage to plantar fasciitis (a strong band of tissues).

Normally, the plantar fascia supports the arch so you can walk, stand or run effectively. However, damage to the plantar fascia causes difficulty in utilizing your foot properly. This condition can increase the risk of developing bone spurs on your heels.

• Bursitis

Bursitis is caused by swelling in the bursa(singular) or bursae(plural). The bursa serves as a protection and cushion to prevent impact and pressure from your tendons, bones, and joints. However, when the bursa is affected, your foot and ankle become swollen, red, and stiff.

• Changes in the shape of your arch

Anatomically, the arch lies inside your foot. It determines the distribution of your body weight evenly across the bones and joints of your feet. Normally, your arch must form an arc passing from the ball of the foot to the heel for your foot to function effectively. This could result in high or low arches, but this is never a problem.

However, people may find their arch shape Changing due to certain complications such as injury, arthritis, and pregnancy. This can make a person develop problems in other parts of their body like the knee, ankle, or hip.

If you are experiencing any of these conditions above and having pain around your foot and ankle, you can visit or contact us to meet with a physiotherapist at In Step Physical Therapy in Edmonton. They will help you manage your foot and ankle pain effectively.

In Step Physical Therapy approach to help relieve your foot and ankle pain

At In Step Physical Therapy Edmonton, when you arrive for your first appointment, our physiotherapists will carry out a series of assessments and examinations to discover the cause of your foot and ankle pain or to find out the number of damages already done to your tissues. They may also perform x-ray tests to check for bone fractures, joint damages, bone alignment, and arthritis. They are also likely to do an ultrasound or MRI scan to show soft tissue problems that x-rays cannot reveal.

After the assessment, our physiotherapists will work together with you to set goals that would help manage your pain effectively. Some of these goals include manual therapy treatment, management of pain and swelling in your tendons, increasing the strength and range of motion in your ankle and foot with recommended exercises.

During this process, they may recommend using braces and applying treatments like acupuncture and ultrasound to help your foot and ankle regain their normal function. Most importantly, our physiotherapists will provide you with medical advice and guidance to help you recover quickly.

Exercises routine we do recommend to help patients recover from foot and ankle pain

After a visit to In Step Physical Therapy at Edmonton, several exercises can be recommended to you for a speedy recovery. They include:

• Range of motion exercises

This exercise requires you to make use of your big toe to draw a circle exaggeratedly. Repeat this exercise four to five times daily.

• Strengthening exercises

Use a stretching band and tie it on your foot towards the direction you want it to strengthen. After this, move your ankle and foot upwards, downwards, inwards, and outwards in a very slow manner. Repeat this ten times in all directions. Do this twice daily.

• Calf stretches and strengthening

This is also a very important exercise when it comes to foot and ankle pain elimination.

• Bosu squat

Bosu squat helps you to improve strength and balance in your legs.

• Airplane

To perform this exercise, you need to stand on the affected ankle and lean forward at your hip, so your body rests forward, and your other leg moves backward in equal amounts. While doing this, make sure that you keep your pelvis squared forward, after which you place your hands out to the side to ensure that you are balanced. Stay in this position for a minute. Take note of all the changes taking place in your foot and ankle.

Are you ready to get rid of your foot and ankle pain?

Mobility is an essential requirement for every human. However, sometimes the system or parts of the body responsible for providing this function can develop pain, which might cause certain restrictions as well as discomfort. Whether you feel slight or severe pain around your foot and ankle, receiving physical therapy can help ease this pain and improve your motion range, flexibility, mobility, and overall health. Visit or Contact us at In Step Physical Therapy downtown Edmonton to book an appointment. We are ever-ready to help you get rid of your foot and ankle pain. Our approach is safe, effective, natural, and nono-invasive.