Ankle Pain Specialist

What ankle injuries does Empire Physical Therapy treat?

There are many reasons you might be experiencing ankle pain. Injury to any of the ankle bones, ligaments, or tendons can cause severe discomfort. Ankle pain makes doing even everyday tasks difficult, like walking through the grocery store. Some typical ankle injuries include:

• Ankle sprain or strain
• Achilles tendonitis
• Shin splints
• Ankle instability
• Stress fracture
• Metatarsalgia
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis
• Arthritis
• Ankle fusion
• Tibialis-posterior tendonitis
• Peroneal tendonitis
• Foot bunionectomy
• Achilles-tendon repair

How do I know if I need an orthopedic specialist?

The aforementioned injuries are just a few potential and relatively common ailments associated with ankle pain. So whether you’ve suffered an injury, or are experiencing chronic foot and ankle pain, Empire is ready to provide you with superior evaluation and treatments. Additionally, if you have experienced any of these pain-causing injuries in the past, or are experiencing severe swelling, potential signs of infection around the ankle (warmth, redness, tenderness in the affected area), or an inability to put weight on your foot, you should contact Empire Physical Therapy & Athletic Rehabilitation, PC in New York City.

What are some exercises the doctor might do with me to rehab my ankle?

Injury to an ankle can increase the risk of re-injury by as much as 40 to 70%. So when you go to rehab for ankle injuries and pain, a great deal of treatment will be physical exercises meant to build strength and increase flexibility. Rehabbing the ankle will be done slowly and carefully. Some exercises include:

• Non-weight-bearing dorsiflexion (moving the ankle back and forth, flexing the foot, encouraging both strength and flexibility)
• Non-weight-bearing plantar flexion (moving the ankle to develop strength in the tendons surrounding the ankle)
• Non-weight-bearing inversion (utilized especially for flexibility, to encourage stability)
• Non-weight-bearing eversion (equal parts strength and flexibility)

Other options for treatment include a series of plyometric exercises, used especially for those who experience injury after a running or agility sport. During these exercises, the tendons and muscles surrounding the ankle are strengthened, thereby lessening the potential for re-injury. Every year, an estimated 2 million people are seen by a physician for ankle sprains, strains, and fractures.

The individualized physical therapy used at Empire Physical Therapy & Athletic Rehabilitation, PC in New York City works to address the conditions that keep you from living your life to the fullest, like pesky ankle pain. By performing manual therapy techniques and doing stretching and strengthening exercises, among other treatments, there are many ways to ease ankle pain. If you are in or around the New York City area, be sure to schedule an appointment at Empire Physical Therapy & Athletic Rehabilitation, PC. You can book an appointment online or call the office to schedule a visit.