Ankle and Foot Pain Physiotherapy in Didsbury
Ankle and foot pain can make walking, standing, exercising and everyday activities difficult. It may develop after an injury, such as a twist or fall, or gradually without a clear incident.At Ellie Physiotherapy in Didsbury, I assess your symptoms, movement, strength and activity levels to understand the factors that may be contributing to your pain.
I then develop an individualised treatment and rehabilitation plan based on your symptoms, goals and lifestyle.
Kind words from My Patients
What can cause ankle and foot pain?
The foot and ankle contain many different joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and other tissues.
Pain can therefore have a number of possible causes.
Symptoms can develop following an injury or after a gradual change in the amount or type of activity you are doing.
You may notice ankle or foot pain after:
Increasing your running or walking distance
Changing your exercise or training programme
Starting a new sport
Spending more time standing or walking
Returning to exercise after a period of reduced activity
Changing footwear
Repeated loading of the foot or ankle
A previous injury that has not fully recovered
Sometimes there is no obvious cause.
The location of your pain, when it occurs and what makes it better or worse can all provide useful information.
During your assessment, I will consider these factors to help understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and whether physiotherapy is appropriate for you.
Where can ankle and foot pain occur?
Ankle and foot pain can affect different areas, including the:
Heel
Sole or arch of the foot
Front, side or back of the ankle
Top of the foot
Ball of the foot
Toes
Achilles region
Different problems can cause similar symptoms, so the location of your pain alone does not always provide a diagnosis.
Heel pain
Heel pain can become noticeable during walking, standing or exercise. Some people experience symptoms after periods of rest or when taking their first steps after getting up.
Arch or sole of the foot pain
Pain underneath the foot or around the arch can sometimes be aggravated by prolonged standing, walking or exercise.
Ankle pain
Pain around the ankle may occur after an injury or develop gradually. It can be associated with changes in movement, strength, balance, mobility or the amount of load placed through the ankle.
Forefoot and toe pain
Pain around the ball of the foot or toes can affect walking, exercise and footwear comfort.
I can assess your symptoms and consider the possible factors contributing to them.
Pain on the top of the foot.
Pain on the top of the foot can have several possible causes.
Recent changes in activity, footwear and loading may be relevant and will be considered as part of my assessment.
Achilles-region pain.
Pain around the back of the ankle or lower calf can affect walking, running and jumping.
I have separate information available on Achilles-related problems if this is relevant to your symptoms.
How can physiotherapy help with ankle and foot pain?
My assessment looks beyond simply identifying where you feel pain.
Depending on your symptoms, I may assess:
How and when your symptoms started
Activities that aggravate or ease your symptoms
Ankle and foot movement
Strength and muscle control
Balance and coordination
Walking and movement patterns
How your foot and ankle respond to different loads
Your work, exercise and sporting requirements
Previous injuries and relevant medical history
This helps me develop a management plan that is appropriate for your individual presentation.
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Your treatment and rehabilitation
Your treatment will depend on the findings of your assessment and your individual goals.Where appropriate, treatment may include education, exercise rehabilitation and hands-on treatment.
Exercise may be used to help improve:
Strength
Progressive strengthening can help improve the ability of the foot, ankle and lower limb to tolerate everyday and sporting activities.
Mobility
If restricted movement is contributing to your symptoms, I may include appropriate mobility exercises within your rehabilitation programme.
Balance and control
Balance and proprioception can be particularly important following an ankle injury and for activities involving uneven surfaces, changes of direction, running or jumping.
Load tolerance
I can gradually progress the amount of activity your foot and ankle can tolerate, while monitoring your symptoms and function.
Functional movement
As your symptoms improve, I can progress exercises towards the movements and activities that are important to you.
My aim is not simply to reduce your pain temporarily.
I want to help you regain function, confidence and the ability to manage your symptoms.
Do I need to stop exercising?
Not always.Whether you should continue, reduce or temporarily modify a particular activity depends on the nature of your symptoms and the findings of your assessment.
For some people, maintaining an appropriate level of activity can form part of rehabilitation.
For others, a temporary reduction in specific activities may be appropriate.
I can help you decide what is suitable for your current situation and how to gradually progress your activity.
If you have sustained a significant injury, particularly where a fracture or other serious injury is suspected, advice about weight-bearing and activity should be based on an appropriate clinical assessment.
When should I see a physiotherapist?
You may benefit from a physiotherapy assessment if your ankle or foot pain:
Is affecting your walking or everyday activitiesIs stopping you from exercising or playing sport
Is affecting your work
Has not improved as expected
Keeps coming back
Developed without an obvious injury and is persisting
Started after an increase in activity and has not settled
Is associated with reduced movement, strength or balance
Continues after a previous ankle or foot injury
Is affecting your confidence in using the affected leg
An assessment can help me understand your symptoms, identify possible contributing factors and determine whether physiotherapy is appropriate for you.
When should I seek urgent medical attention?
Seek urgent medical assessment after an injury if:
The foot or ankle looks significantly deformed
You are unable to put weight through the affected leg following an injury
You have severe or rapidly worsening pain
There is significant swelling following a substantial injury
You have new numbness or loss of sensation
The foot becomes unusually cold, pale or changes colour
You have other symptoms that make you concerned about a serious injury
You should also seek medical advice for unexplained significant swelling, redness or warmth, rapidly worsening symptoms, or symptoms that do not fit with a straightforward musculoskeletal problem.
If I identify findings that require further investigation or medical assessment, I will advise you about the appropriate next step.
How long does ankle or foot pain take to improve?
Recovery time varies considerably depending on the cause of your symptoms, how long you have had the problem and your individual circumstances.
Factors that can influence recovery include:
The nature of the problem
The severity and duration of your symptoms
Your current activity levels
Strength and mobility
Previous injuries
Your work and sporting demands
How your symptoms respond to rehabilitation
Rather than using a fixed recovery time for everyone, I can monitor your progress through changes in symptoms, movement, strength and function.
An individual approach to ankle and foot pain
There is no single treatment that is suitable for every type of ankle or foot pain.
Two people may have pain in the same area but have different contributing factors and different rehabilitation needs.
At Ellie Physiotherapy, I take the time to understand your symptoms, your lifestyle and what you want to achieve.
I then tailor your treatment and rehabilitation to your individual presentation.
Whether you want to walk more comfortably, return to running, get back to the gym, continue with your favourite sport or manage your symptoms at work, I can adapt your rehabilitation around your goals.
Book an appointment with Ellie Physiotherapy to discuss your ankle or foot pain and find out whether physiotherapy is appropriate for you.
Please note
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes and is not intended to replace an individual assessment, diagnosis or medical advice. If you are concerned about your symptoms, please seek appropriate professional advice.