Are You Experiencing Difficulty In Walking, Running, Jumping, Descending Stairs, Or Carrying Out Your Regular Work Or Household Tasks Due To Pain In Your Ankle Or Foot?
Do any of the following scenarios resonate with you?
You initially expected the pain to subside within a few days or weeks, but it persisted.
You attempted various remedies, such as heating pads, ice, and home TENS units, but they failed to alleviate the pain.
Despite receiving massages, the pain returned shortly afterward.
You sought medical attention, where imaging was performed, and injections or medication were prescribed, but the relief was only temporary.
Previous attempts at physical therapy proved ineffective.
You reached a point where you believed that by avoiding activities that exacerbated the pain, you could live with it.
We Are Here To Help You Find Long-Term Solutions!
Here are some common ankle/foot conditions that we specialize in treating:
Arthritis
Ankle Sprain
Plantar Fasciitis
Posterior Tibial Tendinopathy
Achilles Tendinopathy
Midfoot Pain
Morton's Neuroma
Common Causes:
Impaired Mechanics: Reduced joint flexibility, muscle stiffness, muscle imbalances, and impaired posture leading to limited range of motion and decreased function.
Injury: Sudden impact or excessive load placed on the tissues, resulting in damage and pain.
Chronic Compensations: Previous injuries or fear of future injuries causing avoidance of certain muscle groups and overuse of other tissues, leading to imbalances and ongoing pain.
Dimensions Physical Therapy Approach:
Breaking the Pain Cycle: Providing education, manual therapy techniques, and improving tissue mobility to alleviate pain and discomfort.
Enhancing Mechanics: Improving the mechanics of joints, muscles, and nerves during daily functional tasks, exercise, and sport-specific activities.
Tissue Loading: Gradually increasing strength, power, and endurance through appropriate loading strategies, ensuring that the tissues are well-prepared for the demands placed upon them and reducing the fear of re-injury.
Ankle and Foot-Specific Treatments:
Reduce Tissue Inflammation: Implement bracing, taping, and massage techniques to decrease inflammation in the affected tissues.
Enhance Tissue Mobility: Utilize methods like massage, instrument-assisted mobilization, cupping, dry needling, and stretching to improve the mobility and flexibility of the tissues.
Improve Core, Hip, and Knee Control: Focus on exercises and interventions that enhance control and stability in the core, hip, and knee, thereby reducing irregular forces transmitted to the ankle.
Strengthen Calf and Intrinsic Foot Muscles: Implement targeted exercises to improve the strength and function of the calf muscles and the small muscles within the foot.
Restore Joint Nutrition and Range of Motion: Employ techniques to optimize joint nutrition and restore the full range of motion to the ankle and foot.
Optimize Balance and Single Limb Control: Incorporate exercises and activities to enhance balance and control on a single limb.
Progress Plyometric and Functional Activities: Gradually advance to jumping, running, cutting, squatting, and climbing that simulate real-life movements and challenges.
Progress Aerobic/Endurance Conditioning: Gradually increase the intensity and duration of aerobic exercises to improve overall endurance and conditioning.
Provide Proper Footwear Recommendations: Discuss and provide guidance on appropriate footwear choices that support foot and ankle health and function.
Important Points to Understand
Tissue Heal: The body has a natural healing process, but sometimes it needs assistance transitioning from the inflammatory phase to the recovery phase of tissue repair.
Pain and Imaging Correlation: The true source of pain may not always align with imaging results. Tissue damage seen on X-rays or MRIs may not necessarily cause pain or functional limitations. In contrast, pain can be present without visible findings on imaging, often due to nervous tissue sensitivity.
Soreness and Strength Gains: Soreness after exercise is not the ultimate goal but is not always a cause for concern. The body requires an overload that can cause tissue micro-damage to build strength. As the tissue recovers, it becomes thicker and stronger. Monitoring soreness can help determine if the tissue is ready for increased load, should maintain the current level, or should reduce training intensity until the tissue is better prepared.
Return to Activities: With proper education, appropriate mechanics, and progressive tissue loading, it is typically possible to return to previous or desired activities. These factors play a crucial role in facilitating a successful return and minimizing re-injury risk.
I highly recommend choosing Sarah as your physical therapist. Not only is she a great listener who pays attention to detail, she’s also really nice and down to Earth! The help I received from Sarah improved the quality of my life and I can’t thank her enough.
Sarah created an amazing PT space ideal for any athlete!! She is driven, kind, and determined to help her clients get stronger; would highly recommend!!
Sarah has been instrumental in helping me achieve pain-free workout sessions, and keeping my activity in the gym productive by helping me find ways to continue working out without causing myself further injury. Her variety of services, combined with her knowledge, really make her a 1-stop shop for me and is super convenient. Love having her in my corner. You will too.
Dr. Sarah O'Reilly is a wonderful physical therapist, and I would highly recommend her to any athlete looking for preventative or recovery treatment. You'll receive attentive care from a practitioner who understands the strains of training. Furthermore, Dimensions is a state-of-the-art facility. If you're considering physical therapy, look no further than Dimensions PT!
Encouraging, great attitude, key awareness of needs for athletes! Awesome office space for appointments with all the equipment you could need. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to recover from or prevent an injury.
Sarah is very personable and accommodating. Her attention doesn't end with your session. She maintains communication and shares information to educate and support you.