Foot and Ankle Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy Overview to Treatment of the Foot and Ankle:

Physical Therapists treat a wide range of disorders as they relate to the foot and ankle. Plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, Achilles rupture and other tendonitis are the most common orthopedic diagnoses we treat at BreakThrough Physical Therapy.  As a series of extremely mobile joints and strong muscles which play a central role in the action of your entire lower extremity, the foot and ankle are at risk for injury. Foot and ankle pain can be a result of injury or disease of the many joints that encompass the foot and ankle and surrounding tissues. Patients can also report pain through the foot and ankle region which could be initiating in the lumbar spine (low back) or hips or knees. Injury can affect any of the ligaments, bursae, bones, cartilage or tendons surrounding the foot and ankle.

If you are not sure what to do about your foot and/or ankle, but want an easy, cost and time effective way to help ensure you take the right steps towards your future, guided by an expert, check out our Telehealth or Unlicensed Health Consultant and Coaching Services.
At BreakThrough, we begin your road to recovery with a comprehensive physical therapy evaluation.  This is critical in helping us to establish the best-individualized treatment plan for you.  You will meet with one of our licensed physical therapists and they will ask a myriad of questions pertaining to you and your foot and ankle or related symptoms in order to help determine the cause of the pain and limitations you are experiencing.  Once the lines of communication and trust have been established, your physical therapist will then take you through a series of tests to determine more specifically the areas/tissues which may be most painful, weak, tight or limiting you in any way.  Your physical therapist will then communicate their findings to you and educate you on the first portion of your home exercise program.  You, your physical therapist and our aide team will work together in the coming weeks to help you reduce pain, increase mobility, flexibility, strength, and endurance of all related tissues.  You will also learn some key tips to improve postural habits and body mechanics.  Our goal is to see you successfully return to your desired lifestyle upon discharge or “graduation” from BreakThrough Physical Therapy.

Because of the muscular, bony, ligamentous, neural and myofascial connections between the tissues; detailed evaluation including a thorough history by a medical professional is strongly recommended.  Many individuals try to manage their symptoms on their own and delay healing further.  We have found that this causes the need for more extensive care in the future, greater expense to you and greater time away from work, family and friends than would have otherwise been needed.  While the internet can be a great tool for basic information, if you are having signs or symptoms which may need medical attention, please consult your physician or physical therapist immediately to ensure that you are taking the proper steps to your recovery.

While there is no replacement for individualized evaluation and guided treatment, here is a quick video with tips for how to strengthen your arches. BreakThrough happily provides complimentary 25 minute virtual sessions to help you figure out what is holding you back from your goals. Once we learn about you and your situation, we guarantee you will leave the session with a couple key tips for instant implementation. No Obligation!

Relevant Articles you may find useful about physical therapy for a healthy foot and ankle:

• Benefits of Physical Therapy after Immobilization of the Foot and Ankle – Adrian Masoni, PT, DPT
• Choosing the Right Running Shoe – Barry Gordon, PT, DPT

Common Foot and Ankle Tissues treated at BreakThrough Physical Therapy (including, but not limited to):

• Bursa(e)
• Tendons
• Muscle
  • Calf
  • Gastrocnemius
  • Soleus
  • Posterior Tibialis
  • Anterior Tibialis
  • Peroneals
  • Plantar Fascia
  • Flexor Hallucis Longus
  • Extensor Hallucis Longus

• Bones
  • Tibia
  • Fibula
  • Tarsals
  • Metatarsals
  • Phalanges

Common Diagnoses related to the foot and ankle which are treated at BreakThrough Physical Therapy (including, but not limited to):

• Plantar Fasciitis
• Ankle Sprains
• Fractures 
  • Tibial Fracture
  • Fibular Fracture
  • Calcaneal Fracture
  • Talus Fracture

• Tibial Stress Syndrome (Shin Splints)
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Achilles Rupture / Tear
• Ankle Pain
• Foot Pain
• Bone Spurs
• Sever’s Syndrome
• Post-surgical foot and ankle physical therapy
• Post-operative foot and ankle physical therapy
• Tendonitis/Tendinitis
• Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis