Walking is a necessary part of our day-to-day routines. This is why feeling pain in your feet and ankles when you walk can make even the simplest everyday tasks feel like a burden. There are a number of reasons why you might be experiencing foot and ankle pain when walking, even without any injury. Many common conditions that cause foot and ankle pain also cause swelling, inflammation, and an inability to move your foot and ankle joints the way you used to.

If you’re experiencing foot and ankle pain when walking, but you don’t know the cause, it may be time to see a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapy specialists are trained to be able to identify the source of your pain, and determine the best course of action to treat it.

How can physical therapy help treat my foot and ankle pain?

There are a number of methods a physical therapist can use to treat the source of your foot and ankle pain when walking. The goal of any good physical therapy plan should be to not only reduce your pain, but also treat the source of the problem so that you can get back to the things you enjoy. Once your therapist has determined the cause of your pain, some of the techniques they may employ include:

• Joint mobilization — Joint mobilization is a type of manual therapy specifically designed to help with joint pain and stiffness. A physical therapist may use their hands as well as specialized tools to mobilize a stiff joint. This not only helps improve your mobility, but can also reduce pain when walking.
• Soft tissue mobilization — The pain caused by walking may come from the many muscles and other soft tissue that make up our feet and ankles. Soft tissue mobilization techniques assist in reducing the pain, tension and swelling in the affected areas. Your therapist will use hands-on techniques to break up scar tissue underneath your skin, as well as loosen tight muscles that may be hindering your movement.
• Muscle energy techniques — This is another kind of manual therapy that physical therapy specialists can use to treat your foot and ankle pain when walking. Your physical therapist will guide you through exercises designed to intentionally lengthen and shorten muscles in an effort to mobilize a stiff and painful joint.

Where can I turn to for trusted physical therapy?

Continuum Wellness wants to be your trusted partner in helping you recover from your pain. Our team of licensed physical therapy specialists can help you determine the source of your foot and ankle pain when walking, and will work with you to create a physical therapy plan that is suited to your needs. 

Don’t let your foot and ankle pain hold you back any longer from enjoying your day! Get started today with a free screening at our clinic.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.