What is ankle and foot pain?
Ankle and foot pain is pain that arises from the structures of the ankle and foot. These structures include joint, muscle, ligament, nerve, and bone.
What causes ankle and foot pain?
Ankle and foot pain is a result of damage to the structures of the ankle and foot. The most common cause of ankle and foot pain is due to repetitive overuse, overloading of the structures in the ankle and foot, or complex forceful and quick movements also direct trauma. Repetitive loading occurs with simple non-painful movements. Constant repetition of these movements leads to damage and eventual failure of the structures in the ankle and foot, leading to ankle or foot pain and tissue inflammation.
Where is ankle and foot pain felt?
Ankle and foot pain is felt over the structure that has been damaged. Therefore, if you injured a structure that is on the outside of the ankle, your pain will often be felt more over the damaged region. If your ankle or foot pain is due to nerve irritation in your back, the pain will be more vague but also felt through the ankle and foot. Ankle and foot pain is commonly described as a dull or strong ache and felt over the affected structure. In more severe cases, the pain can be sharp, shooting, and associated with significant swelling of the ankle and foot. This will result in the significant restriction in movement available at the foot and ankle and made worse with simple movements that require loading the ankle and foot like walking.
What should you do?
If you have ankle or foot pain due to trauma/accident, you should consult your doctor/emergency department immediately to ensure it is nothing more serious. Otherwise, if you have injured your ankle and foot you need to consult our professional therapists for an appropriate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. By treating your problem immediately, you decrease the chances of having any long-term effects and benefit from a quicker recovery. If poorly managed you do increase the risk of the problem becoming chronic and requiring long-term treatment.
What should I not do?
If you have ankle and foot pain, you should not ignore the problem and continue to participate in activities that aggravate your problem. This may lead to the problem increasing in severity resulting in other regions being affected by altered movement patterns to avoid pain and ultimately result in a prolonged recovery.
What is the treatment and management of ankle and foot pain?
Appropriate treatment and management require prompt assessment and diagnosis of the problem. This may require a referral for diagnostic imaging such as x-ray or MRI. Once a working diagnosis has been established, treatment will commence to reduce your pain and inflammation. Once your pain has settled, a rehabilitation and management program will be given to help you take control of your problem. With your participation, the treatment and rehabilitation program will help get you back to your daily activities and reduce the chances of your knee pain re-occurring.
Other conditions related to the knee that we can also help you with include:
- Inversion Ankle Sprains (Rolled Ankle / Lateral Ankle Sprain)
- Achilles Tendinopathy / Tendinitis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Heel pain
- Stress Fractures
- Avulsion Fractures
- Metatarsalgia
- Joint sprains
- Sesamoid injuries
- Achilles Tendon Rupture and Repair
- Heel & Foot Pain in athletes