Foot and Ankle Pain
Foot and ankle pain tend to be most limiting due to altering your ability to get around. It is a common part of the body that is reinjured, usually due to improper healing or a significant change in the way you move while you are injured.
Common conditions
Foot & ankle pain may occur suddenly due to acute injury or may develop over time due to dysfunctional movement patterns or improper footwear.
1
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the connective tissue on the bottom of the feet becomes inflamed. This occurs following gait deviations, standing with poor posture, or footwear that lacks proper support or has too much cushioning.
2
Arch height / Overpronation
The arch in your foot acts as a stiff support during the push off portion of gait. If your foot is unable to form a proper arch, stability is lost and another part of your body has to work overtime to compensate.
It can be caused by an intrinsic issue with your foot, limited ankle mobility, or lack of hip mobility. Over time this creates pain anywhere from your foot to your back depending on the compensation method.
3
Sprains & ‘Rolled Ankles’
A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched too far or torn, usually resulting in immediate swelling. The biggest risk factor for rolling your ankle is if you’ve rolled your ankle before! Improving ankle (and hip) stability and walking/running mechanics can significantly decrease your risk of reinjury.
4
Bone Spur
Your heel is a common place for a bone spur to build. Bone makes more bone when it is repeatedly stressed, in this case the stress is caused by a tendon pulling on it in a way that it wasn’t meant to. This happens from gait deviations, poorly fit footwear, or a big change in activity without progression. Relieve the stress, and the bone spur will actually go away on its own.
5
Bunion & Hammer Toe
These deformities occur due to improper forces pulling on your toes. They typically originate from wearing too narrow/restrictive footwear, then hit a point where your foot muscles actually pull the toe in the wrong direction making it worse. Most cases can be corrected in a few months without surgical intervention.
