7 Key Benefits of Physical Therapy Following a Foot or Ankle Injury

Injuring your ankle or foot can present a setback. You may wonder if you’ll ever feel normal and healthy again. This form of trauma can cause a difficult recovery. The good news is that you can regain your full functioning again. 

But unfortunately, it doesn’t usually happen on its own. You usually need physical therapy in addition to any possible surgeries. The Run Doctor providers at Washington Foot & Ankle Sports Medicine explain more about how physical therapy can benefit you.

The purpose of physical therapy

Physical therapy is an essential component of sports medicine. Injuries to your feet or ankles can make it nearly impossible to continue walking, let alone participate in any sports.

Physical therapy aims to resolve several issues that are common after an injury. Some of these improvements include the following.

Improved range of motion

After an injury to your foot or ankle, you’ll probably find that your range of motion is rather limited. Physical therapy can significantly improve and eventually restore your range of motion back to normal. 

Strengthening

Strengthening your foot and ankle can actually prevent these types of injuries from happening again in the future. Many injuries happen because your feet or ankles aren’t strong enough to withstand what you put them through. Building your strength can help your feet and ankles feel buffered against stress and strain.

Improved blood flow

You have decreased blood flow to your feet and ankles when you get injured, which can prolong your healing process. Physical therapy improves blood flow to your feet and ankles, significantly speeding up the healing process.

Stabilization

You may notice after an ankle or foot injury that it feels like they become less stable to walk on. That’s a normal but unfortunate situation. Physical therapy will help stabilize your foot and ankle, reducing your risk of suffering another injury.

Relevant motions for your activities

If you injure your foot and ankle, you want to ensure you can participate again in your previous activities. In some cases, that might be playing a sport, and the specific motions you have to make are unique to your sport. We’ll ensure that you can still make the physical motions required by your sport, whether playing soccer or running.

Remaining physically active

It’s crucial to remain physically active for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most important factor is how it benefits your health greatly to be physically active. Physical therapy will provide that activity for you and help you still get some exercise, even if you cannot fully participate in your former activities.

Reduces pain

Many people find it discouraging to have a lot of pain after an ankle or foot injury. The healing process can hurt. Some patients may become dependent on pain relievers to help. But physical therapy helps reduce your pain. Even though the therapeutic exercises may initially hurt a bit, you’ll find that they benefit you greatly in the long run.

Physical therapy also has other benefits, like improving your gait (the way that you walk) and decreasing swelling. If you’ve recently experienced a foot or ankle injury, contact the Run Doctor providers at Washington Foot & Ankle Sports Medicine or request an appointment online.