Foot & Ankle Pain Services in Chattanooga & Cleveland, TN
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis refers to inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue on the underside of the foot that connects the heel to the ball of the foot. Plantar fasciitis typically occurs from tightening of the tissues under the foot and even further up in the legs. In addition, changes in the shape of the foot, such as fallen arches or changes in shoe wear can induce plantar fasciitis. Furthermore, changes in walking posture can increase the strain on the plantar fascia.
Plantar fasciitis is commonly felt as burning or sharp pain when standing on the affected leg. This usually occurs first thing in the morning or with initial standing after sitting for a prolonged period. Inflammation builds during the day in the fascia and may begin to hurt after prolonged walking. As you sit or sleep, the inflammation thickens, and the plantar fascia stiffens. When you go to step on the foot, the inflamed and stiff tissue stretches, causing pain. Pain may be felt mostly in the heel, but can extend along the bottom of the foot.
At first we evaluate your movement, posture, walking pattern, and ankle and foot mobility. Our gentle, hands-on therapy is great for soothing irritated tissue in the foot and improving range of motion in the foot and ankle joints.
Modalities like ultrasound and ice can reduce swelling and pain quickly. Our goal is to elinate your pain quickly and strengthen your feet for long-term results. Call us today to discover how we can help resolve your plantar fasciitis pain and get you back on your feet!
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon that attaches your calf muscle to the back of your heel. Achilles tendonitis is typically caused by tightness in the hamstrings and calf muscles. In addition, limitations in ankle and foot range of motion can alter your walking pattern, putting excessive strain on the Achilles tendon, causing tendonitis.
Typically, the back of the ankle and heel is very painful to touch, especially after prolonged walking. Rest tends to help Achilles tendonitis while walking aggravates it.
Physical therapy is one of the best treatment options for Achilles tendonitis. Our physical therapists will evaluate your leg, ankle and foot mobility, range of motion, strength, balance and walking patterns. This will help us discover the root cause of your pain and resolve that for long term results.
We focus on treatments to resolve your pain quickly, improve your joint mobility and strengthen muscles as needed. The result is the ability to walk and run without pain in the back of your heel returning to the activities you love to do.
Fractures
The goal with fracture management is to provide a safe position for the bone heal (typically around 8 weeks), while maintaining range of motion. As the bone heals, strengthening can begin and rehabilitation back to normal activities is progressed.
At times, surgery is neccessary to hold the bone together with plates or screws. This stabilizes the bone, but it also disrupt muscles and leads to more weakness in the ankle. Physical therapy is very much needed after surgery to restore normal range of motion and strength to ankle. Recovery times can vary, but traditionally take 12–16 weeks.
Physical therapy is a very important part of rehabilitation after a shoulder fracture. Whether you are a young person or older, we work closely with you and your physician to make sure your fracture is protected while it heals. We then work closely with you to gradually restore your range of motion, relieve pain, soothe aching muscles and improve your strength.
The goal of physical therapy is to return you to normal activities after the normal course of bone healing. We can prevent long–term damage and address any issues that may have caused a fall onto the arm in the first place. Call us today to learn more how we can help you after a fracture.
Sprain / Strain
Sprains refer to injuries of the ligaments (connect bone to bone) and strains refer to injuries of the muscles or tendons (connect muscle to bone). Sprains and strains occur from quick over-stretching of the tissues causing micro-tearing and subsequent injury. Swelling begins as part of the inflammation process, causing pain and difficulty with movement.
The first step in treating sprains or strains is to rest, ice and elevate it. With severe limitations in movement you should see our physical therapists right away. There are different levels of sprain or strain from mild to severe. In some cases, the tearing can be complete and even be in need of surgical repair.
In most cases, physical therapy can effectively help you recover from a sprain or strain. We first evaluate the injured area to determine the extent of the injury and ensure that the ligaments or tendons are still intact. After we pinpoint the injured area, we formulate a treatment plan that will quickly relieve your swelling, pain and begin restoring range of motion.
The goal of physical therapy is to restore your normal range of motion and eventually restore normal strength. If you participate in sports or are very active, we work closely with you to make sure that we help you fully recover and can participate in those activities you love to do. Call us today to discover how we can effectively treat your sprains or strains. Also ask about our injury prevention program.