Foot & Ankle

The joints of the ankle and foot are supported by several muscles and over one hundred ligaments! To maintain the balance between strength and agility, the movements at each joint are very intricate, which makes them more susceptible to getting injured easily.

If you have pain, or a niggle that won’t go away, don’t ignore it.

 

Here at The Physio & Therapy Rooms in Barrowford, we offer treatment for all types of ankle and foot problems, with our aim always being to improve your quality of life, by easing your pain, increasing your mobility and getting you back to doing the things you enjoy.

Get in touch today to start your recovery.

“Just to say a huge thank you for helping me on the way to recovery. Being able to do the things I was initially unable to do after a nasty crash (like carry Sienna around, play footy, etcetera) is so important to me. Without a doubt, I couldn’t have done those things again without your help.

From speaking to you, I know you’re one dedicated bloke, who cares about the wellbeing of the people who you treat and I have thoroughly enjoyed chatting to you – from South Park to Portugal to views on teaching – we must have covered every topic there is!

Anyway, once again, a huge thanks. Good luck in your new place and if I see you out, I owe you a black Sambuca.

All the best to both you and Jo.”

Tony H, Crawshawbooth

The most common injuries in the ankle and foot are sprains and strains. These sorts of injuries are often minor in nature but can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort.

Our team of experienced physiotherapists treat a wide range of conditions but some of the more common ankle and foot problems that we routinely offer relief from are:

  • Plantar Fasciitis – The plantar fascia is a thick band of collagen tissue that runs along the sole of the foot from the heel to the toes and which absorbs shock when walking. If the plantar fascia is repeatedly overstretched, small tears can occur causing significant pain, which is often at its worst when you first step out of bed.
  • Ligament Injuries – This type of injury (often referred to as a sprain or tear) is one of the most common injuries of the ankle and foot and can cause pain, instability, tenderness, and weakness. There are several ligaments in the ankle and foot but the most painful and most commonly injured is the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), which is injured mainly when we forcefully invert, or ‘twist’ our ankle.
  • Turf Toe – ‘Turf toe’ is commonly associated with football players and is the term used to describe a sprain of the ligaments around the big toe joint, often occurring when the player kicks the ground or another player’s boot instead of the ball!
  • Achilles Tendinitis – An overuse injury most commonly seen in runners and middle-aged people, in whom the Achilles tendon (the thick band of tissue which connects your calf muscle to your heel) weakens, making it more prone to injury. This typically causes swelling and pain, which can be severe and debilitating, and may result in a significantly reduced range of movement in the ankle.
  • Biomechanical Foot Pain – Poor foot and ankle biomechanics can alter the alignment of your knees, hips, pelvis, and spine, causing pain and discomfort throughout.
  • Morton’s Neuroma – This occurs when one of the plantar digital nerves (usually between the third and fourth metatarsal) in your foot is irritated or damaged and can cause clicking, in addition to a stabbing or burning pain.
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) – This is the main form of arthritis and is known as the ‘wear and tear’ of a joint. In the ankle and foot, the protective cartilage covering the joint surfaces can wear away, resulting in swelling, pain, stiffness, aching, and limited movement of the joints.
  • Sever’s Disease – Inflammation of the growth plate in the heel and one of the most common causes of heel pain in growing children and adolescents.
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome – Can cause weakness, pain, aching, numbness, or a tingling sensation in the foot. It occurs when a nerve in the ankle is compressed or ‘trapped’ as it passes through a tunnel formed by some of the bones and ligaments in the ankle. These types of symptoms may last for just a few days or weeks but in some cases can last for many months or years. However, regardless of how long they have been there, these types of symptoms can often be resolved.

For more information, or to make an appointment to start your recovery, we would encourage you to call our friendly team in Barrowford on 01282 509500 who will be more than happy to help.

Here at The Physio & Therapy Rooms, we are very proud of the feedback we receive. If you would like to see what people say about us, click here to read about the positive difference that we have made to our client’s lives.