CLINICAL CARE
Foot and leg pain
I see people with foot, ankle and lower leg pain, from a niggle that started last week to a problem that has hung around for years.
Every plan starts with understanding what is going on for you, and is guided by current research on your condition.
Common problems I treat
The problems I see most often include:
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Heel and arch pain, including plantar heel pain
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Achilles and other tendon pain around the foot and ankle
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Forefoot pain, including Morton’s neuroma, bursitis and bunions, and big toe pain and stiffness. See the research on big toe arthritis
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Shin and calf pain, including bone stress injuries
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Ankle sprains and ankles that keep giving way
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Foot and ankle arthritis, including midfoot osteoarthritis
Your first appointment
Your first appointment covers:
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A thorough history: when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, your work, activity and footwear, and what you want to get back to.
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An assessment of how your foot and leg move and load, including how your joints move, strength, footwear, and how you walk, or run if that is relevant.
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A clear explanation of what is going on and your options, and a plan we agree on together, with next steps you can start straight away.
Treatment
Not everything has strong evidence behind it, so I am upfront about what the research supports, what is based on experience, and what we are trying to see if it helps.
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Depending on what is going on, a plan may include:
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advice on activity and load
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strength and exercise
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dry needling and soft tissue work
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radial shockwave therapy
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footwear advice
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taping
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orthotics
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changes to running technique, where relevant
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If imaging or another opinion would help, we will talk about that too.