Foot pain is an uncomfortable sensory and emotional experience caused by perceived damage to any tissue distal to the tibia or fibula, including bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, apophyses, retinacula, fascia, bursae, nerves, skin, nails, and vascular systems. Foot pain affects 17 to 42% of the adult population. In nearly half of these cases, it is disabling and can impact mood, behavior, fall risk, self-care ability, and quality of life. But physical therapy treatment can help a lot.
Foot pain is complicated, and difficulties in precisely detecting the site of pain and the cause of tissue injury might impede clinical care.
Common causes of Foot and Ankle pain
Foot discomfort can be caused by injury, overuse, or conditions that produce inflammation in any of the bones, ligaments, or tendons in the foot. Foot pain is frequently caused by arthritis. Foot nerve injuries can cause acute burning pain, numbness, or tingling. Some common causes of foot pain include:
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Tumors
- Plantar fasciitis
- Broken toe
- Inflammatory joint disease
What are the risk factors associated with foot pain?
A risk factor increases the likelihood of developing a health concern. Children and the elderly are more likely to experience foot pain. Women may also be more likely to wear high-heeled shoes. The following are some common risk factors connected with a greater likelihood of getting foot pain:
- Specific jobs- Jobs like construction may increase the risk of harm. Other issues may arise as a result of repetitive use on the job.
- High-impact exercises are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and stress fractures.
Specific health issues, for example:
- Diabetes- Diabetics are more likely to get serious foot infections due to poor circulation.
- Obesity- People who are overweight place additional strain on their feet. This also increases the likelihood of foot or ankle injury.
- Other health issues- People with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and some inherited disorders are more likely to experience foot pain.
Preventive measures for foot pain
When standing or walking, the foot is highly crucial. It must correct all structural flaws in the skeleton above. Failure of the foot to appropriately adjust to structural defects in the body can lead to foot structure breakdown. This foot collapse causes flat feet, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and other chronic foot discomforts. Common foot pain prevention strategies include:
- Choose comfortable shoes and well cushions
- Shoes with high heels and limited toe regions should be avoided
- Keep a healthy weight
- Stretch before engaging in strenuous activity
- During breaks, sit down
- Maintain proper foot hygiene
- Wear footwear when going outside to safeguard your feet
Advantages of physical therapy
Decrease pain– To relieve pain, therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques such as joint and soft tissue mobility, as well as treatments such as ultrasound, taping, or electrical stimulation, can be used. Such therapies can also help to keep the pain away.
Avoid surgery– Surgery may not be necessary if physical therapy helps you remove discomfort or recuperate from an accident. Even if surgery is required, pre-surgical physical rehabilitation may be beneficial. In many circumstances, if you go into surgery more robust and in better form, you will heal faster. In addition, avoiding surgery lowers healthcare costs.
Increase mobility– Physical therapy can assist if you have difficulty standing, walking, or moving, regardless of age. Stretching and strengthening activities might help you regain your mobility. Whatever action is significant in a person’s life can be practiced and changed to ensure maximum performance and safety by developing an individual care plan.
Improve your balance and avoid falling– You will be assessed for fall risk when you begin physical therapy. If you are at a high risk of falling, therapists will provide exercises that safely and carefully stress your balance to simulate real-life scenarios. Therapists can also aid you with activities to enhance balance and assistive gadgets to help you walk more safely. When a vestibular system impairment causes a balance problem, physical therapists can execute specialized to swiftly restore appropriate vestibular functioning and lessen or eliminate feelings of dizziness or vertigo.