Foot and Ankle Pain Relief
It’s time to start living again. Return to activities you love!
The foot and ankle are amazingly-complex structures that take a huge amount of force with every step that you take. Following injuries or age, ligaments and other structures in the foot can change, resulting in improper or aggravated forces on the foot and ankle. With ill-fitted shoes and residual effects from prior injuries, pain can occur from poor stability, lack of mobility or lack of strength in the stabilizing muscles.
The ankle is made up of the bones of the lower leg (tibia and fibula) forming an arch over the talus bone in the foot. This is actually a flexible arch that opens slightly when bending the ankle and closes when extending it. If this does not occur properly or the mechanics of the joint are not in good alignment, increased painful pressure occurs.
Just like the complexities of the hand, the foot and ankle is a very complex structure that can affect the functioning of your knee, hip, back and even posture. With ankle pain and foot pain, there is a lot that needs to be evaluated first before deciding on the appropriate treatment.
At the Ozzie Smith Centers of Springfield, our expert physical therapists have years of training in evaluating the movement of your foot, ankle and legs. We perform an analysis of your foot and ankle joints as well as the muscles in your legs. Furthermore, our physical therapist analyze your walking and running patterns to determine the root cause of your foot pain or ankle pain so it can be treated quickly and effectively.
Trust us to help you relieve your pain quickly and restore your normal walking / running activities.
Contact us today at Springfield, Monett & Ozark, MO Centers to learn more about our ankle and foot pain treatment program!
Some of the Common Conditions We Treat:
- Post-surgical foot and ankle
- Ankle sprains
- Foot pain
- Ankle pain
- Collapsed arches
- Achilles tendonitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Arthritis
- Sports injuries
- Difficulty walking / poor balance
Neck pain is also very common and can generate pain or limited mobility in the shoulder, arm, or hand. Headaches and even migraines are often triggered by an underlying neck problem. For example, many patients complain of aches or tenderness in the neck, and sometimes shooting, sharp pains in nearby areas. Often, the primary problems causing your neck pain are tightened muscles and poor posture from daily stress, sitting at computers, and inactivity.
At the Ozzie Smith Centers of Springfield, our physical therapists are experts in helping patients quickly relieve their back and neck pain. During your evaluation, our physical therapists will discuss your history, examine your spine, and evaluate your movement, strength, walking, and coordination. This will help our physical therapists pinpoint the exact cause of your back pain or neck pain. We will work closely with your physician to design a back and neck treatment plan that best suits your needs and offers the quickest relief from pain and return to function.
Contact us today at Springfield, Monett & Ozark, MO Centers… OR use the “Make Appointment” button so our physical therapists can help reduce your back and neck pain and get you back to optimal function today!
FAQs
How do I know if my back pain is serious?
The pain you experience in your back may either be acute or chronic, depending on how it was sustained. Acute pain means that it lasts for a short time and is usually severe. Chronic pain means that it lasts generally three months or longer and it can either cause dull or severe persistent pain. The pain you experience is typically either rooted in your back muscles or the bones in your spine. If your pain is severe enough to hinder you from doing daily tasks, if it suddenly worsens, or if it has lasted longer than three months, then it is time to seek the help of a physical therapist.
How do I get relief from back pain?
You can treat your back pain with physical therapy. Physical therapy can address back pain by helping to improve your range of motion, strengthening the muscles in the affected areas, and using targeted massage to reduce tension. In many situations, working with a physical therapist to improve can significantly reduce the severity of your back pain, and may even help you avoid more invasive procedures, such as surgery.
What is the best physical therapy treatment for back pain?
Your physical therapist will design a treatment plan based on your specific needs. Your individualized treatment plan will incorporate the best methods possible for relieving your pain, facilitating the healing process, and restoring function and movement to the affected area(s) of your back. Your initial appointment will consist of a comprehensive evaluation, which will help your physical therapist discover which forms of treatment will be best for the orthopedic, neurologic, or cardiovascular condition you are experiencing. The main stages of your plan will focus on pain relief, which may include any combination of ice and heat therapies, manual therapy, posture improvement, targeted stretches and exercises, or any other treatment that your physical therapist may deem fit. While there is no singular method for relieving back pain, your physical therapist will make sure you receive the best treatments for your needs.
How do you relieve back pain without drugs?
While medication is easy, it only helps your pain subside for a short amount of time. Over time, certain drugs can cause some unfavorable side effects, and in some cases, they can be habit-forming. With NSAIDs, you run the risk of blood clots, heart attack, or stroke. With corticosteroids, you run the risk of cataracts, high blood sugar levels, and bone loss. Luckily, there is a much safer and healthier alternative to treating persistent back pain: physical therapy. At your initial consultation, your physical therapist will ask you several questions regarding your medical history, lifestyle, and painful area(s). This information will assist your physical therapist in creating the best treatment plan for you and your specific needs, so you can be provided with long-term results.