Ankle and Foot Pain
Achilles Tendon Injury
Plantar fasciitis is a common injury that causes pain in the heel and bottom of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, a fibrous sheath that runs underneath the foot. During walking and running as you push off with your toes the plantar fascia becomes taut and helps the foot act as a lever to push up from the ground. Plantar fasciitis usually develops as a result of overuse. Pain is common over the inside of the heel and usually radiates down the inside of the sole of the foot. The pain usually occurs with weight bearing activities such as walking and is also typically present in the morning when taking the first few steps out of bed.
Achilles tendon pain is a common complaint among sports people such as runners who repeatedly load the tendon during activity. Broadly speaking the tendon can be painful due to ‘tendinitis' (meaning inflammation) or tendinosis (degenerative changes). It is a frequent cause of calf and heel pain. Tendinitis is characterised by the signs of inflammation which include redness, heat, swelling and pain. Achilles tendinosis is usually characterised by degeneration of the achilles tendon (situated above the heel to form the lower part of the calf muscles). Achilles tendinosis is a breakdown in the tendon, with structural changes occurring within the tendon without an inflammatory response. This degeneration means that the tendon does not possess its normal strength and may be liable to further injury with continued sporting activity.
A sprained ankle is one of the most common injuries caused by participation in sports. It refers to soft tissue damage around the ankle, usually caused by twisting the ankle inwards or outwards. Because of the position of the bones around the ankle the more common injury is to twist the ankle inward. This injury causes damage to the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. In the case of an outwards injury the damage occurs on the inner side of the ankle. The ligament on the inside of the ankle is called the deltoid ligament and is very strong. It is so strong in fact that the bone on the inside of the ankle can be pulled off (avulsion fracture) before the ligament is damaged. The damage caused by spraining the ankle can cause bleeding within the tissue, leading to swelling and pain.
What we can do to help...
Treatment for the above conditions will vary depending on your specific requirements. Initially the physiotherapist will conduct a thorough investigation of your particular problem and work out the best treatment strategy. As the sessions continue, this may evolve and change somewhat. Each treatment programme will be a combination of soft tissue therapy, joint mobilisation, electrotherapy, acupuncture and exercise therapy depending on what is required.
To discuss any of these conditions with a physiotherapist please call:
Huntingdon: 01487 773 088
Cambridge: 01223 654 332