Ankle pain can be distressing, interfering with your daily activities and causing a decline in your performance at work. Physical therapy for sprained or broken ankle as well as tendonitis, shin splints, and ankle arthritis has been shown to help with the rehabilitation of injured extremities while also providing relief for both acute and chronic pain. Improve your joint mobility and reinforce muscles to restore the range of motion with the help of skilled ankle injury rehabilitation specialists located in Brooklyn and Manhattan, NY.
If something is wrong with your legs, ankles, and feet, it doesn’t take long for the rest of your body to feel out of sorts. Pain in this region can immediately compromise your mobility, daily activities, and the enjoyment of your life.
People suffering with ankle pain or injuries may be able to find relief with a few days of rest and home care, but a persisting level of pain, limited range of motion, or a more severe injury is reason to see a doctor. Most ankle pain can be traced back to an injury but there are some illnesses, joint problems, and disorders that can also compromise your ankle comfort.
Ankle therapy is often the best approach to relieving ankle pain, increasing mobility and strength in the ankle, and recovering from an injury or surgery. Our team of doctors specializes in top physical therapy approaches to treating ankle issues. This may include targeted exercises, ankle massage therapy, hands-on care, and modalities in your treatment plan to create a customized approach that gives you the most effective outcome in the shortest timeframe.
Ankle Physical Therapy Exercises
Your ankle joint is a weight-bearing marvel, but it’s also very susceptible to injury. The worst thing is that an already compromised ankle is instable, which can lead to further injury. This is why seeking the help of a trained physical therapist is important. They can help you rehab your ankle faster and more effectively, so you heal quickly and eliminate your chance of further injury. They might also be able to help you improve your normal gait to avoid future problems.
Some very common ankle physical therapy exercises you may encounter at Physical Therapists NYC include:
- Dorsiflexion, pulling toes upward
- Plantar flexion, pointing your toes
- Inversion, moving toes and whole foot inward
- Eversion, moving toes and whole foot outward
- Writing the alphabet in the air with your toes
- Calf raises
- Shifting your weight
- Balance exercises
These exercises are not just useful for people with ankle pain or injuries, they’re great ways to strengthen your ankle and improve your balance. This can help with walking, running, other physical activities, and sporting pursuits. Doing some of these exercises regularly or before sports can reduce your odds of having an ankle injury.
Dr Patel is one of the best doctors I have worked with. She is very knowledgeable and always explains her rationale and decision making for her treatment recommendations. I started going to her for an ankle injury and saw immediate improvements in the pain. Over time I have built more strength and am slowly finding more stability in holding weight on the ankle. All the clinic staff are really great and encouraging. I feel very safe and confident in my healing working with dr Patel!
irna sayeedI have had such an amazing experience coming here!! Highly recommend, I have been working with Dr Parikh for over a month now and have been seeing incredible results in such a short amount of time! She is super nice and very good at helping me out and figuring out the root of the problem. I was very nervous about messing up my shoulder more but she knows what she is doing and knows about my limitations more than I do!! The people at the front desk are also so sweet and helpful!! Always feel at ease and welcomed whenever I walk in. The environment is so great and positive!! This should be the place you should come to, trust me.
NicolePhysical Therapy for Sprained Ankle
Sprained ankle therapy is a very common prescribed approach for people who have a sprain, a strain, or have rolled their ankles. A sprain happens when your ankle ligaments are stretched further than they’re meant to go. Sprains can happen to ligaments that were simply stretched too far, ligaments that have ripped, and ones that have been completely torn.
In most situations, a sprain occurs to the lateral ligaments, these are the ones on the outside of your foot. The medial, or inner side of the ankle, is less often injured but it can happen. Most sprains heal within a couple months, but the recovery time can be much longer depending on your all-over health and the level of injury.
PT is one of the best treatment options available for sprained ankles. Not only does physical therapy for sprained ankle address the immediate issues of pain, lack of mobility, and recovery, it can be an effective tool for strengthening the ligament and surrounding muscles so future injuries don’t occur. Unfortunately, if you sprain your ankle, you’re more likely to reinjure yourself in the future. This is why doing all that you can to strengthen the ankle is so important.
Read more: What Are The Benefits Of PULSE PEMF Therapy?
Physical Therapy for Broken Ankle
A broken ankle is typically very painful, and it instantly changes your level of mobility. Obviously, you will need to be seen by a healthcare professional immediately. Most people with broken ankles head directly to urgent care or the hospital. Once the ankle has been set, you’ll most likely be place into some type of cast, you may have a few different ones throughout your healing process. You’ll likely have a few different assistive devices for mobility too.
Some patients who have had broken ankles will be immediately referred to a physical therapist to receive instruction on how to best use their assistive devices during recovery. You will eventually receive ankle fracture physical therapy, but that will come later, after your bones have had time to mend. In the meantime, learning to walk with crutches, a cane, or a walker is important and can help you understand weight-bearing restrictions.
Your therapist may also begin working with you to strengthen the knee and hip of the affected leg so you’re in better shape when it’s time to begin ankle therapy. Having strong muscles can greatly reduce your odds of a future injury after your bone has healed.
Broken ankle physical therapy also plays a big role in the healing process. Wolff’s law states that a bone grows and remodels in response to stress. Our therapists are experts in applying the appropriate stress and teaching you how to do this, so you get the maximum healing benefits.
PT After Ankle Surgery
Some broken ankles require surgery for remodeling of the bone and setting but there are other reasons for ankle surgery.
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Chronic ankle instability
- Deformity of the ankle
Not only are there different conditions that might require ankle surgery, there are different types of ankle surgery. They include:
- Ankle arthroscopy
- Tendon surgery
- Ankle fracture surgery
- Ankle fusion
- Ankle replacement
- Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction
No matter why you’re having ankle surgery or what type of surgery it is, you will most likely have physical therapy after ankle surgery. This therapy helps you recover from the initial issue that prompted surgery and the surgery itself. It’s not just about being able to move your ankle again, PT after ankle surgery can help with the following:
- Preventing blood clots
- Eliminating scar tissue
- Reducing swelling and inflammation
- Increasing strength in the ankle
- Increasing strength in the rest of the foot and leg
- Restoring range of motion
- Gait retraining to prevent future injuries
If you know that you’re going to have ankle surgery, it’s a good idea to connect with a physical therapist before surgery so you can schedule an appointment as soon as possible after your surgery.
Consultation For Ankle Pain
Book Your Appointment Now at Physical Therapists NYC
If you have ankle pain, a sprain, or a broken ankle, our staff is here to help. From the minute you enter our modern downtown offices, we will work to accommodate you. Our goal is to create a comfortable experience that makes coming to therapy easy and enjoyable. We understand that many of our patients work on Wall Street and in downtown NYC, which is why we have early morning and late evening hours, so you don’t have to miss work.
Our team is guided by our well-trained medical doctors who listen to your concerns and draft your recovery plan. They will pay attention to your list of symptoms, perform diagnostic tests using our state-of-the-art equipment, if necessary, and then move into the gym to take advantage of modern tools, equipment, and techniques to speed up your healing process.
It is our mission, at Physical Therapists NYC, to create a treatment plan that is customized to your diagnosis and your level of comfort. We will work with you to define long-term goals and create a map for ankle recovery that will help prevent future injuries. For us, it’s not just about treating you today but giving you the best possible future solutions as well.
Physical therapy can provide significant benefits for people who suffer from ankle pain. It can also help increase the range of motion and flexibility in the ankle joint, which can be limited by pain and inflammation. Additionally, ankle Physical Therapy can help strengthen the muscles surrounding the ankle, including the calf and shin muscles, which can provide stability and support to the joint and reduce the risk of further injury. PT can be a great option for managing ankle pain, improving overall function, and increasing mobility in the affected joint.
Contact our office to discuss your ankle pain and find the best approach to scheduling an appointment or a consultation with our PTs.
Dr. Hetarth Kapadia is a licensed physical therapist that has extensive experience working with orthopedic, neurological, and cardiovascular patients, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the practice.
Dr. Hetarth Kapadia received his Bachelor's degree in physical therapy from S.B.B. College Of Physiotherapy and his Master's degree in Kinesiology from California Baptist University, Riverside, California, with a major in Exercise Science.
Dr. Hetarth is now pursuing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Touro College in New York. Before becoming a part of our practice, he worked in New York at various outpatient clinics where he dealt with patients with musculoskeletal and orthopedic disorders.
More about Dr. Kapadia
