Physical therapy treatments for ankle pain are aimed at reducing the pain, addressing underlying factors and facilitating return to full activity. My team of therapists and I will start by getting to know your concerns and goals and performing a thorough physical exam to determine what may be causing the pain (if this isn’t already known) and also to decide which areas of the leg we should target with our physical therapy interventions. Your therapist will employ manual therapy interventions to target joint and tissue mobility while also prescribing movements and exercises for strength, motor control and mobility to be performed in the home and the clinic.

HOW LONG WILL I NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY?

The duration of your physical therapy plan of care will vary depending on the severity of symptoms, what is causing the pain as well as the types of activities you aim to resume. While full resolution of symptoms can take some time, you may begin to see some results right away. You should experience some improvements in many symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and inflammation within a couple of weeks though full return to pain-free activities will likely take longer. Achieving long lasting results may take some time, but dedication to your program will not only help you achieve these results but will help to decrease the likelihood of symptoms recurring in the future.

THE ANKLE JOINT

The ankle is a hinge joint where the primary motion is to lift and point the foot. If we look at an image of the ankle joint you will see the larger inner bone of the lower leg leg called the tibia and the thinner outer bone called the fibula articulate with a bone called the talus in the posterior part of the foot. Beneath the talus lies the calcaneus or heel bone. Many ligaments, muscles. and tendons travel between the bones of the lower leg and foot, crossing the ankle joint. The primary motion of the ankle joint is dorsiflexion and plantarflexion or lifting and pointing the foot. The motion that occurs at the joint between the talus and calcaneus bones allows the foot to turn in and out. Any of these structures can be involved in ankle pain. Similarly, impairments arising from higher up in the leg can also cause pain at the ankle which is why your therapist will be looking at the whole lower body and not only the ankle joint.

How Long Will Physical Therapy for Ankle Pain Treatment Last?

If you decide to work with an ankle physical therapist to help correct your ankle issues, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20 different ankle PT sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized arm physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your ankle PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

COMMON CAUSES OF ANKLE PAIN

There are many potential causes of pain in the ankle. Here are some conditions that may result in ankle pain based on the location of symptoms:

Posterior ankle pain-

• Posterior ankle impingement
• Achilles tendon injuries or tendinopathies

• Ankle sprain
• Peroneal tendon injury
• Sinus tarsi syndrome

• Ankle sprain
• Medial ankle stress fracture
• Tibialis posterior tendonitis
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

• Anterior ankle impingement
• High ankle sprain

WHAT PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENTS ARE BEST FOR ANKLE PAIN?

The answer to this question is truly individualized and depends on many factors such as the cause of your ankle pain, the severity and chronicity of the symptoms, and other personal factors like your prior level of activity and other medical comorbidities. Your physical therapist will design an individualized treatment plan for you, however, these are some of the more common ankle pain treatments offered by physical therapists and which you might experience when working with your PT:

• Modalities and manual therapy techniques to reduce pain and inflammation and promote tissue healing
• Weight bearing modification recommendations such as the use of bracing, taping or an assistive device like a cane or walker to offload painful or injured tissues
• Muscle strength, endurance and power training to improve stability and strength for return to normal activity once pain symptoms improve
• Tissue and joint mobilization, mobility and stretching techniques to restore normal range of motion and flexibility which can be an important aspect of addressing ankle pain
• Gait training to restore normal walking mechanics with walking and running
• Motor control and coordination training to ensure proper muscle activation around the ankle which is helpful to prevent recurrence of the painful symptoms
• Sport and work specific training exercises to prepare the ankle to return to your prior activities if the pain has caused you to stop or reduce your activity level.