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HELP FOR ANKLE AND FOOT PAIN WITH SPORTS MASSAGE IN CHORLE

Foot and ankle pain is common and is most often caused by an accident, fall or injury. 

Find out how the foot and ankle work together, how you can treat ankle or foot pain at home, and what sports massage can do to help with foot or ankle pain. 

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WHAT IS ANKLE OR FOOT PAIN?

Written by Arran Tomlinson, Sports Massage Therapist at Muscle Mender, Buckshaw Village, Chorley

The ankle is where the leg joins the foot. There are three bones at the ankle joint: the shin bone (the tibia), the calf bone (the fibular) and the largest bone at the top of the foot, the talus. The bones are supported by a variety of muscle and ligaments, and together, they allow the ankle to turn inwards (a movement known as inversion) or outwards (a movement known as eversion). 

 

The foot runs from the heel to the tips of the toes. There are 26 bones in each foot, and a large number of muscles, ligaments and tendons that allow for extremely complex movements. Although we rarely think about how much work our feet do, by the time we're fifty, we've likely covered 75,000 miles on them!

But with so many muscles, ligaments and bones in the ankle and foot, and so much flexibility and movement, sometimes things go wrong, and that's when foot or ankle pain or ache can occur. Common ankle problems include ankle sprains or "going over" on an ankle, and common foot pain includes heel pain, plantar fasciitis and pain across the top of the foot. 

WHAT CAUSES ANKLE PAIN OR FOOT PAIN?

The most common cause of ankle pain is a sprained ankle. This is where the foot moves too far one way (either inwards or outwards); that movement is located at the ankle, and when the foot moves farther than the ligaments in the joint allow, then there is pain. This can be caused by a trip or fall, or a sports injury, whether that's a solo sport like ballet where you've lost your balance, or a team sport like football or rugby where you were tackled. 

Foot pain can have a variety of causes depending on where the pain is in the foot. One of the most common pains in the foot is plantar fasciitis, which is a sharp, stabbing pain in the bottom of the foot when you first put your foot on the ground and start walking. 

Plantar fasciitis is caused when a thick, supportive piece of tissue that runs from the toes to the heel, called the plantar fascia, becomes damaged by small tears or irritation. 

Another common cause of foot and ankle pain are problems with the achilles tendon. The achilles tendon is the tendon that runs from the bottom of the calf muscle to the heel, and can often be felt by feeling around the back of the ankle as a thick cord under the skin. The achilles is a strong tendon, but it can get injured through overuse or accident (common in sports). 


Other foot pain can be caused by heel spurs, bunions, broken toes, or problems with other ligaments or joints in the foot. 

TREATING FOOT OR ANKLE PAIN AT HOME IN CHORLEY

The NHS advise that most foot and ankle pain will get better within around six to twelve weeks. While you're waiting for it to get better, you can try treating yourself with over the counter painkillers. If you decide to take painkillers, please make sure that you use painkillers that are safe for you to use depending on your medical history. If you're not sure, a GP or pharmacist can help. 

When it comes to foot or ankle pain, many people will often use cold therapy - or icing - either to the ankle joint or to the sole of the foot in cases of plantar fasciitis. It's important not to leave the source of the cold (whether it's a specialist ice pack or just a bag of peas in a towel) on the skin for too long as this can cause damage to the skin or the tissues directly underneath. 

Compression bandages around the ankle can feel supportive if you have an ankle strain or sprain; some people find that compression bandages are uncomfortable in hot weather. Sports taping can provide a similar level of support without the discomfort of compression bandages. 

Resting the foot or ankle can help with recovery but it's important not to completely stop moving as this can actually slow recovery. Instead, gentle movements performed regularly can be helpful - of course, this depends on what the injury or pain is, and if you're not sure what to do, you should speak to a professional. 

HOW DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TREAT ANKLE PAIN OR FOOT PAIN

If home remedies don't help with your foot or ankle pain, you might decide to go and see a GP. 

The treatment you receive will depend on the symptoms you have and the cause of your injury. Severe problems like a torn achilles tendon or a heel spur might result in surgery, while other problems like an ankle sprain or plantar fasciitis might simply need painkillers and advice. 
 

Some people choose to seek massage or sports massage therapy for their ankle or foot pain. Sports massage - like that offered by Muscle Mender in Chorley - focuses on restoring movement and reducing pain, and while results cannot be guaranteed, many people find sports massage a useful complementary therapy for these types of problems. 

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I treat foot and ankle pain using a variety of techniques, including massage, sports massage, cupping, scraping and kinesiology taping. 

When I see my clients, I examine exactly what is going on because as a fully trained therapist, I know that the cause of pain is not always where you feel it - foot pain can be caused by issues in other parts of the body such as the knee or ankle, and ankle pain can be caused by issues in the calf or knee or even the foot!

The treatment I offer is personalised for you, with the aim of helping you get back to doing what you love as soon as possible. ​​

TREATMENT OF ANKLE PAIN OR FOOT PAIN WITH SPORTS MASSAGE IN CHORLEY AT MUSCLE MENDER

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BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY

A specialist, expert, sports massage in Chorley with me, Arran, costs from £38. All appointments are personalised to help reduce your pain and restore your mobility. 

Children under 18 are treated with a parent present.

Multi-appointment packages and gift cards are also available. 

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CONTACT

Hannah Court,
Chorley,
Lancashire, PR7 7AX

 

arran@musclemender.co.uk

07305 243893

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