5 Ways Physical Therapy Makes For Fitter Feet!

Kentlands Foot & Ankle Center understands the value of conservative treatments and natural remedies; in fact, Dr. Sherman was featured in Business Insider a few months ago discussing just that! It should come as no surprise, then, that our team places such a high value on the power of physical therapy, which can make a difference for a wide range of lower extremity ailments.

This blog will cover five different conditions and circumstances that PT alleviates, improves, or even prevents. Let’s kick things off!

1. Plantar Fasciitis:

This prevalent problem inflicts heel pain due to inflammation of the plantar fascia, the tissue connecting your heel to your toes. Physical therapists can design personalized plantar fasciitis stretches with a custom program that improves flexibility, reduces pain, and prevents future flare-ups.

2. Ankle Sprains:

Rolled ankles are frequent, painful injuries, stretching or tearing the ligaments that stabilize your joints. Physical therapy can provide an ankle sprain recovery regimen and ankle strengthening exercises to help you regain range of motion, strengthen supporting muscles, and improve proprioception (your body’s awareness of joint position). This, in turn, will reduce pain, swelling, and the risk of future sprains.

3. Achilles Tendinitis:

Overuse can inflame the Achilles tendon, causing pain in the back of your heel. Physical therapy focuses on reducing inflammation, improving flexibility, and strengthening the calf muscles to better support the tendon.

4. Arthritis:

Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the foot and ankle joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Physical therapists can create an exercise program to maintain joint mobility, strengthening surrounding muscles while improving balance. This helps manage pain, maintain function, and potentially delay the need for surgery.

5. Post-Surgical Recovery:

After foot or ankle surgery, physical therapy is crucial for regaining strength, flexibility, and range of motion. A personalized program helps restore proper gait mechanics and function, ensuring a smooth and successful recovery.

As you can see, physical therapy can do all kinds of good for your feet and ankles, healing them when they’re hurt and maintaining them when they’re fit.

Interested in learning more? We’re always available and happy to help! Schedule a comprehensive foot examination with Kentlands Foot and Ankle Center podiatrist Dr. Jon M. Sherman. To make your appointment, please call our office at (301)-825-9697.

Good News for People with Chronic Heel Pain!

A twitch of pain somewhere in your foot is one thing – brief and tolerable. Thank goodness it goes away.

Heel pain that doesn’t go away is an entirely different matter. We’re talking about the heel pain that greets you like a knife when you step out of bed every morning. The kind of intense pain that makes you cry out, perhaps with a few choice words you didn’t mean to say. This kind of pain requires attention from Kentlands Foot and Ankle Center’s board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Jon M. Sherman, because it’s not likely to get better on its own.

Plantar fasciitis, explained!

The medical term for chronic heel pain is plantar fasciitis. Any medical word with the suffix “-itis” means “inflammation.” In this case, it’s the plantar fascia that’s inflamed. The plantar fascia is a large, thick ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting the calcaneus (heel bone) to your toes. It’s easily inflamed under some circumstances:

• You have a job that requires you to be on your feet for much of the day, such as a waiter, nurse, or urban mail carrier.
• You’re a runner or walker who’s recently increased their mileage, pace, or distance.
• You participate in other athletic activities, such as ballet, that put a lot of stress on your feet.
• You’re carrying some extra pounds, which puts undue stress on your feet.
• You have pre-existing issues with your foot anatomy, such as flatfoot or high arches.
• You’re over 40: The older you are, the more likely you will develop plantar fasciitis.

The pain you don’t have to live with

Fortunately, we have many effective treatments that soothe the pain of plantar fasciitis. Dr. Sherman will likely start with conservative approaches, including taking a break from any activity that hurts, performing stretching exercises, icing, taking anti-inflammatory medications, wearing custom orthotics, and getting steroid injections. Often, the best treatment involves a combination of all these.

Other treatment options include non-invasive shockwave therapy (ESWT, laser light therapy/cold laser, and physical therapy. Surgery for plantar fasciitis is a possibility but not a common one.

The key to successful plantar fasciitis treatment is getting it promptly. Don’t wait. We encourage residents of Montgomery County to consult Dr. Sherman sooner rather than later for a full examination and assessment of their heel pain. Call (301) 825-9697 or contact us online for an appointment at our Gaithersburg podiatry office.

Let This Year Be The End Of Your Foot Pain

As we welcome the new year, many feel motivated to take steps towards self-improvement. Some may begin by improving their daily routines, including increased healthy exercise habits. If you start a new fitness routine, be gentle with yourself, be consistent, and start slowly. Occasionally, heel pain can intensify when you begin a new exercise routine. Don’t let heel pain prevent you from moving forward with your 2023 fitness goals!

Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) may be one of the most common issues seen by podiatrists today. It’s a condition in which the band of tissue that stretches from your heel bone to your toes becomes inflamed, torn, or otherwise stressed from overuse. It is vital to get a complete exam and proper diagnosis if you experience heel pain.

Our specialists recommend using the following methods to resolve foot pain during the new year

• Follow simple stretches and exercise routines to strengthen the foot.
• Wear proper fitting shoes with arch and ankle support.
• Ice your heel several times a day to reduce uncomfortable inflammation.
• Rest your lower extremities.
• Use custom orthotics to alleviate chronic foot pain.
• Use an anti-inflammatory drug such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen to help with the pain.
• Call a podiatrist.

Certain people have an increased risk of developing plantar fasciitis or foot pain. Those people are:

• Between the ages 40-60
• Carry extra weight
• Have predisposed hereditary conditions
• Have tight Achilles tendons
• Wear non-supportive shoes or high heels
• Have an occupation that causes you to be on your feet for extended periods

The longer you have been experiencing the pain of plantar fasciitis, the longer it may take to help resolve the pain. To better determine the source of your heel pain and the best course of treatment, schedule a comprehensive foot examination with Kentlands Foot and Ankle Center podiatrist, Dr. Jon M. Sherman, at our Montgomery office. To schedule your appointment, please call our office at (301)-825-9697.