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The Role of Manual Therapy in Ankle Pain Treatment

The Role of Manual Therapy in Ankle Pain Treatment

manual therapy in ankle pain treatment

Ankle pain affects young and old alike. This discomfort can arise from several reasons, including sprains, overuse, or chronic conditions like arthritis. Unfortunately, activities that most of us take for granted, like walking or climbing stairs, often become difficult or impossible if you have ankle pain. 

But one can't simply will ankle pain to go away. Most of us require some sort of treatment to see our symptoms improve and to prevent complications that could lead us to an even worse place. 

One potential treatment for ankle pain is manual therapy, a "hands-on" approach physiotherapists use to relieve pain, improve movement, and restore function. 

But what exactly is manual therapy, and how might it work for us? 

What is Manual Therapy?

Summit Physical Therapy performs a specialized treatment called manual therapy. During treatment, they use their hands to manipulate, mobilize, and massage parts of a patient's body. The goal is to reduce pain, improve joint function and range of motion, and restore close to normal balance to the affected areas of the body.

What Foot and Ankle Conditions Can Benefit from Physical Therapy?

You may feel foot and ankle pain for several reasons, including injury from traumatic events, overuse, and medical conditions. Other common foot and ankle conditions that can benefit from physical therapy include:

  • Fracture: A fracture refers to a partial or complete break of a bone. While several types of fractures have different causes, foot or ankle fractures are commonly caused by accidents or injury. The foot and ankle are also the most common victims of stress fractures. Unlike a regular fracture, stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bone that occur due to excessive force or pressure on the bone. Fractures can lead to swelling and pain, restricting movement and preventing people from carrying out daily activities. Physical therapy can deal with fractures causing foot and ankle pain. 

  • Sprains: A sprain is an injury that occurs when the fibrous tissues that connect the bone and joints (ligament) are stretched or torn. A sprained ankle is one of the most common causes of foot and ankle pain. The ligaments in the feet and ankles are susceptible to injury because they support your body’s weight and are almost always in use. Other causes of ankle sprains include falls and awkward landings that injure the ligaments during sports. Ankle sprains cause pain and may make movement difficult. However, physical therapy can help to treat ankle sprains and manage their symptoms.

  • Arthritis: This condition affects joints (a place where two bones meet). It is a degenerative disease that leads to the inflammation of the joints, causing severe pain and stiffness. Arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic foot and ankle pain, affecting the ankle and toe joints. Physical therapy employs different treatment interventions to treat arthritis and manage its symptoms.

  • Achilles tendonitis: The Achilles tendon is a band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the calf muscles. This tendon may become inflamed or irritated due to overuse or injury, causing severe pain, swelling, redness, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Achilles tendonitis can be treated and managed through physical therapy. 

Other foot and ankle conditions that physical therapy can treat include post-surgical rehabilitation, foot or ankle bursitis, neuroma, corns, calluses, bunions, sores, gout, flatfoot, etc. Obese people, pregnant women, people over the age of 65, and people who engage in sports and activities that require jumping and quick movements are at a higher risk of developing foot and ankle pain. 

Manual Therapy Techniques for Treating Ankle Pain

Ankle pain responds well to manual therapy, but manual therapy is not a single treatment. It is, instead, a collection of techniques tailored to your specific symptoms and condition. Manual therapy is commonly used among physiotherapists and other rehabilitation specialists to treat a wide range of conditions. 

Common manual therapy techniques that are used to relieve ankle pain: 

Passive Range Of Motion

Your physiotherapist will work with you during passive range of motion exercises. They will move the affected part of your body, stretching and improving its flexibility. You don’t have to move the body part yourself.

Joint Mobilization

This technique involves the application of force to your joint to improve its function. The force may be gentle, oscillating, or sudden - it all depends on the severity of your condition and the technique your physiotherapist uses. 

Soft Tissue Mobilization

Soft tissue mobilization targets your muscles, ligaments, and fascia. Your physiotherapist will apply deep pressure and stretches to relax tension, break up rigid tissue, and improve blood flow. 

Myofascial Release

This technique involves applying gentle pressure to your myofascial tissues, the tough coverings that connect and support your body's muscles. This treatment relieves tension and pain to improve your mobility.

Trigger Point Release

Trigger point release targets the pain and tension in your muscles. Your physiotherapist may use needles or other methods to relieve tension in areas with tight muscles.

Flexibility And Stretching

Your physiotherapist will gradually stretch tense and painful areas in your body until you encounter resistance. They will then hold this position for a period to increase your flexibility.

Scar Mobilization

When a wound heals, it can form scars. Your physiotherapist can use scar mobilization techniques to improve the quality and flexibility of the scar. This technique prevents the scar from becoming hard and sticking to your tissues and bones. 

Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatic drainage massage is a highly effective treatment for post-injury swelling. It is performed by a physiotherapist who uses light, soothing strokes in rhythm with the patient's breathing. 

This massage is not deep but very effective, especially for working with the lymphatic system. When the lymphatic system is working better, the body swells less and is on its way to healing. 

When to Seek Manual Therapy for Ankle Pain

It is crucial to recognize when it is necessary to consult a physiotherapist about ankle discomfort. Persistent pain lasting more than a week signals the need for professional assessment. So does swelling and stiffness that resists several days' worth of icing, elevation, compression, and other at-home remedies. 

If your ankle is giving you such trouble that you're limping or finding it hard to put weight on your foot, it's time to seek help. Also, if you keep reinjuring your ankle, stop waiting for the next time to consult a physiotherapist—they're your best shot at getting back to normal.

What To Expect During Manual Therapy Sessions

During your manual therapy sessions, your therapist will first assess your range of motion, strength, and pain levels. This will help them create a tailored treatment plan that will include manual therapy techniques like joint mobilizations.

Your therapist will also recommend an at-home exercise program to help strengthen and stretch your muscles.

As you continue your treatment, Summit Physical Therapy will monitor your progress to adjust your treatment plan if necessary.

Conclusion

Manual therapy plays a crucial role in treating ankle pain. It goes beyond just the surface-level remedies and really gets to the crux of the issue, allowing for actual recovery. Manual therapy has the potential to heal and span both recent and long-standing injuries. 

If you have an ankle that is keeping you from doing what you want to do, consider the possibility of manual therapy and consult a therapist today. 

Summit Physical Therapy