Our feet and ankles support our body weight and allow us to walk and run. We depend on them to perform many of the activities that make up our day. So, it’s no surprise that all that wear and tear might result in foot and ankle pain every now and again. However, if you are experiencing pain in your feet and ankles that doesn’t go away, it may be time to seek treatment.
Did you know that many common causes of foot and ankle pain can be treated with physical therapy? It’s true! There’s no need to look any further than your local physical therapist when seeking out a foot and ankle pain specialist. In many cases, you can even book an appointment with a physical therapist without having to be referred by your primary care physician.
Why should I go to a physical therapist for help with my foot and ankle pain?
A licensed physical therapist can not only help you manage your foot and ankle pain, but can also work with you to pinpoint the cause of your pain and work with you to treat it. There are a number of benefits that can come from choosing a physical therapist as your foot and ankle pain specialist, including:
- Direct access — Depending on which state you live in, you may be able to access physical therapy without needing a doctor’s referral. This saves you the time and cost of having to book a doctor’s appointment, which can often take weeks. Your insurance company may limit how much physical therapy you can receive, however.
- Reduced pain — Your foot and ankle pain may be holding you back from participating in activities that you enjoy. Your physical therapist can employ a number of methods to reduce your pain, including manual therapy and dry needling therapy.
- Increased mobility — Foot and ankle pain may be the result of conditions such as osteoarthritis, muscle strain and cramps, bone spurs, or other injuries that make it harder to move and bend your feet and ankles. Using techniques such as joint mobilization, your physical therapist can gently work to restore flexibility and mobility to your feet and ankles.
- Preventing injury — One of the goals of any physical therapy program should be not only to reduce your pain and help you get back on your feet, but also to make sure that you don’t injure yourself further. Gait training is one of the techniques a licensed physical therapist can use to analyze and correct your posture while walking and running. This helps you strengthen the muscles in your feet and ankles and prevent further injury.
Where can I turn to find qualified foot and ankle pain specialists?
For foot and ankle pain specialists outside the Kansas City area, look no further than Specialists In Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation. Our team of licensed physical therapy specialists are qualified to diagnose and treat you for a number of common causes of foot and ankle pain. This includes:
- Muscle strains.
- Pain from osteoarthritis.
- Sports injuries.
- Bone spurs.
- Achilles tendinitis.
A free screening at one of our convenient clinics will put you in touch with one of our physical therapists, who will work with you to determine the cause of your pain. They will then craft a custom plan of treatment that is specially suited to your needs. Don’t let foot and ankle pain hold you back from your daily routine any longer!
Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.