Foot and ankle injuries are among the most common injuries assessed and treated by sports physiotherapists. The foot and ankle are essential for supporting body weight, providing balance, absorbing shock, walking, running and kicking.
The foot and ankle are a complex system made of 28 bones, 33 joints and 112 ligaments. It's controlled by 34 muscles: 21 in the foot (the intrinsic muscles) and 13 extrinsic.
The majority of injuries we see at our Brisbane clinic are sprains and strains of the ankle and its ligaments. In addition to acute injuries, our physios also treat plantar fasciitis and fasciopathy, Achilles tendinitis and tendinopathy, and a range of other overuse conditions of the foot and ankle.
Your physio will always thoroughly examine you to rule out red flags, then perform a series of tests to assess the bones, joints, cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments of the foot and ankle.
In most cases, sprains and strains are managed initially with a combination of taping or bracing, soft tissue massage, ice for swelling, and some gentle range-of-motion exercises. As treatment progresses, your physiotherapist will guide you through evidence-based strength, flexibility and balance exercises, and may use dry needling to help stimulate healing.
Treatment for Acute Ankle Sprains Acute ankle sprains are one of the most common sporting injuries treated by physiotherapists. Fortunately, most are simple to treat and can be managed a series of exercises and stretches taught by your physiotherapist.
What is plantar fasciosis? Plantar fasciosis, or commonly known as plantar fasciitis, is pain at the attachment site of plantar fascia.
When it comes to orthotics not all are created equal. So when trying to decide which option is best for your particular needs, here is a brief summary of the available options.
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