Dylan has previously worked in a specialist foot and ankle clinic thus allowing him to gain the knowledge and skills to rehabilitate and treat foot and ankle pain.
Symptoms and Causes of Foot and Ankle
Symptoms
Causes
Symptoms
Common Symptoms Affecting the Foot and Ankle:
- Pain: Persistent or intermittent pain in the foot or ankle, which can range from mild to severe.
- Swelling: Swelling or edema in the affected area.
- Stiffness: Difficulty moving the foot or ankle, accompanied by a sensation of stiffness.
- Instability: Feeling that the foot or ankle is giving way or feels unstable.
- Redness and warmth: The affected area may appear red and feel warm to the touch.
- Numbness or tingling: Sensations of numbness or tingling in the foot or ankle.
- Limited range of motion: Difficulty moving the foot or ankle through its normal range of motion.
- Deformity: Visible deformity in the foot or ankle, such as a misalignment or an abnormal position of the bones or joints.
- Difficulty walking or bearing weight: Pain or discomfort that makes walking or putting weight on the affected foot or ankle challenging.
Causes
Common Causes of Foot and Ankle Pain:
- Sprains and Strains: Stretching or tearing of ligaments (sprains) or muscles and tendons (strains) in the foot or ankle due to sudden twists, overuse, or traumatic injuries.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that supports the arch of the foot, leading to heel pain.
- Achilles Tendinitis: Inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone, often resulting from overuse or repetitive strain.
- Fractures: Broken bones in the foot or ankle, which can occur from trauma, falls, or stress fractures due to repetitive activities.
- Bunions: A bunion is a bony bump that forms at the base of the big toe, causing pain and deformity.
- Morton’s Neuroma: Thickening of the tissue around a nerve between the toes, often causing pain and a sensation of walking on a pebble.
- Gout: The buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, including the foot and ankle, leading to sudden and intense pain.
- Osteoarthritis: Degenerative joint disease that can affect the foot and ankle, causing pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Compression or irritation of the tibial nerve as it passes through the tarsal tunnel, resulting in pain, numbness, and tingling in the foot and ankle.
- Plantar Warts: Viral infections that cause small, fleshy growths on the sole of the foot, resulting in pain or discomfort.
