Foot & Ankle Pain
Foot and ankle pain is often plantar fasciitis, an ankle sprain, an irritated Achilles tendon or shin splints, and physical therapy helps by restoring motion and building strength where the load goes. Heights Physical Therapy treats foot pain, heel pain and ankle injuries in Gunnison, Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley.
Heel pain in the morning and plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is irritation of the thick band along the bottom of the foot. The classic sign is heel pain with the first steps out of bed, or after sitting for a while, that eases and then returns after long days on your feet. In a town with winter boots, ski boots and long days on trails, it is a common problem.
Treatment looks at the foot, the calf and the way you stand and walk. We use stretching, strengthening, manual therapy and changes to your footwear and activity, with a home program you can do at the start of the day.
Ankles that roll, and ankles that keep rolling
Uneven trails make sprains easy. Without the right rehab, a sprained ankle tends to happen again.
The first days after a sprain
We help settle swelling and pain, and get you walking safely again.
Weak ankles and ankle instability
An ankle that gives way on a trail or a curb needs strength and balance training, which can help the joint and your nervous system react faster.
Balance and proprioception
Standing on one leg, on soft surfaces and then on moving tasks trains the body to sense the ankle in space. See balance care if unsteadiness goes beyond the ankle.
Achilles pain and shin splints on the trail
Runners, hikers and mountain bikers often feel these when they ramp up too fast, or move to hillier terrain.
- Achilles tendinitis and tendinopathy: pain and stiffness at the back of the heel or just above it, treated with graded calf loading, not only rest
- Shin splints: an ache along the inner shin that appears with running or hiking, treated by adjusting training load and strengthening the calf, foot and hip
- Advice on shoes and a gradual return to running and hiking while you build strength
- A plan to increase mileage, elevation and pack weight in steps
Recovery after a fracture or a walking boot
Getting out of the boot
After weeks in a boot or cast the ankle is stiff and the calf is weak. We restore motion first, then strength, then walking and balance.
Shoes and orthotics
People with flat feet often ask about arch support. We can talk through shoe fit, a cushioned or supportive insole from a store and different ways of lacing, which can take stress off a sore foot. If you wonder about custom orthotics, ask your doctor or a podiatrist.
When the problem is bigger than the foot
Foot and ankle trouble changes how the whole leg works, so we also look at the knee. Athletes can read about sports injury rehab, and anyone coming off an operation can see post-surgical rehab. Numbness or burning in both feet is a different problem and is covered under peripheral neuropathy.
Related care
Ask about your foot or ankle
Whether it is a first-step ache, a rolled ankle or a stiff foot after a boot, we can help you plan your next step. We see patients from Gunnison, Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley. Call or request an appointment and we will find a time that works.
We see patients in Gunnison, Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley, Colorado.