Ankle / Foot Pain

Foot and ankle pain can be due to an acute injury such as rolling your ankle or falling, or it can develop over time from overuse. Choices in footwear, training errors, and poor form can precipitate pain.

• Achilles Tendonitis – is the inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone.  Common causes include running and jumping activities and sudden starting and stopping movements as in football, basketball, soccer or tennis.  Other causes may include tightness in the calf muscle, changes in activity levels, age, and improper footwear.

• Shin Splints – often occurs with overuse or repetitive strain on the muscles of the leg.  Anterior shin splints are located in the front of the leg pain and are associated with running on hard surfaces, improper shoe wear, or poor foot mechanics. Posterior shin splints occur along the inside of the leg and are less common. Contributing factors include fallen arches, repetitive strain during running and jumping, poor foot or walking mechanics, and weakness in the legs.

• Sprains and Strains – with so many bones, ligaments and tendons, it is easy to sprain or strain your foot.  Ligaments connect bones to bones and a sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched or torn.  A sprain occurs when a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn.  Symptoms can vary, from minor pain to the inability to put weight on the foot.

• Fractures – can develop from a trauma or from overuse (stress fracture). This can cause severe pain, swelling, and bruising.  Often the foot may need to be immobilized in a walking boot and weight bearing may be protected for a certain duration of time.

• Fallen Arches – otherwise known as flat feet.  This can occur in one or both feet and be present from birth or develop later on in life.  When the arch collapses, the foot loses support which can lead to pain, fatigue, and other foot problems.

• Plantar Fasciitis – causes pain in the heel and the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs of the bottom of the foot, connects the heel to the toes, and helps to support the arch.  Pain develops by repetitive strain or overuse leading to small tears and inflammation.  Poor shoe wear, high or low arches, and changes in activity levels can also precipitate symptoms.  Often, symptoms are worse in the morning or when getting up after sitting for a long period of time.