A foot injury is one of the last health complications most people want to deal with, simply because it can leave you bed-ridden for weeks.
Some of the most common foot injuries include sports injuries, sprained ankles, burns, cuts, amputations, fractures, and puncture wounds. Foot injuries are especially common at workplaces where there is a risk of heavy objects falling on your feet.
Other than that, individuals whose jobs requires them to keep standing for long hours or overuse their foot muscles may also experience some kind of pain.
Let’s see if physical therapy can help with this condition:
What are common foot issues?
Here are some of the most prevalent foot disorders that people deal with:
- Achilles Tendonitis
This condition arises when the tendons that connect your foot muscles to the bones become inflamed. This tendon is known as the calf tendon and helps us jump, run, and walk. Achilles Tendonitis arises when you start exercising without adequately warming up or wear ill-fitted shoes.
- Plantar Fasciitis
If the tissue that connects your heel bones to the toes gets strained, you develop Plantar Fasciitis. This is a very painful condition that can also cause swelling, reddening, and inflammation if left untreated for a long time. The pain is more accentuated around the heel area, and usually gets triggered when you take your first steps in the morning.
- Foot and Ankle Stress Fractures
A foot injury can also take place as a result of prolonged weight-bearing activities. These types of fractures are more common among athletes who play sports that require them to make repetitive movements.
How does physical therapy help?
Physical therapy provides a holistic suite of benefits. It focuses on your muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance—all at the same time.
Your therapist will sit down with you and carry out an in-depth analysis of your condition. They will then make sure the therapy targets specific muscles that need to be healed.
One of the most common physical therapy techniques is Soft Tissue Mobilization. Your therapist will facilitate the recovery of stiff muscles with the help of deep friction massage and scar mobilization. In some cases, you may also need physical therapy for post-surgery recovery.
Pain management is a very important element of physical therapy. The therapists use ice packs, heat taping, massage, ultrasound treatments, and exercises to help reduce the severity of the pain. They also restore your range of emotions by specific treatments.
If you’re on the lookout of a team of experienced physical therapists in Houston, give us a call. At HealthRite Medical & Rehab Clinic, we follow a multifactorial approach to address your foot and ankle issues. Contact us for details.