Struggling With Pain That Won’t Go Away?
Don’t let discomfort slow you down! Schedule your appointment today and take the first step toward lasting relief.
Get Rid of Your Foot Pain for an Active and Fun Spring!
Have you ever experienced that sharp, stabbing pain in your foot that makes every step feel like a challenge? Or perhaps a dull, persistent ache that just won’t go away? Foot pain is a common complaint that can significantly impact your quality of life by limiting your ability to work, exercise, and even enjoy simple activities like walking or standing. Physical therapy offers effective, non-invasive solutions to alleviate foot pain, improve function, and get you back on your feet this spring.
Common Causes of Foot Pain
Understanding the root cause of your foot pain is an important part of finding effective treatment. Let’s explore five of the most common foot pain conditions.
Plantar Fasciitis
This condition involves degeneration of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. It often causes heel pain, particularly in the morning or after periods of rest. Risk factors include obesity, high-arched feet, and activities that put excessive stress on the feet.
Metatarsalgia
This refers to pain in the ball of your foot, often caused by overuse, high-impact activities, or wearing ill-fitting shoes. Symptoms may include sharp or burning pain, numbness, or tingling in the toes.
Achilles Tendinitis
This condition involves inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It often causes pain and stiffness in the back of the ankle, especially during or after activity.
Foot Sprains
These injuries occur when the ligaments that support your foot joints are stretched or torn, typically due to a sudden twisting or rolling motion. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, and instability.
Arthritis
This degenerative joint disease can affect any joint in your foot, causing pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. Risk factors include age, previous injuries, and family history.ep, or daily routine, we’re here to help. Call us today to schedule a consultation and let’s get you back to moving comfortably again.
Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955320301417?via%3Dihub, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36180150/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2270377/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28972599/082254/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4827371/
Running To Foot Pain Relief
A woman in her 40s came to our clinic complaining of persistent heel pain that had been bothering her for several months. The pain was particularly intense in the morning, making it difficult for her to even get out of bed. After a thorough evaluation, our physical therapist determined that her symptoms were consistent with plantar fasciitis
Her active lifestyle and love for running had put excessive stress on her feet, leading to plantar fasciitis. The pain had significantly impacted her life, forcing her to give up running and other activities she enjoyed.
We created a treatment plan that included a combination of pain management techniques, strengthening exercises, and a gradual return to activity.
Pain Management
Initially, we focused on reducing her pain and restoring mobility in the foot and calf through manual therapy techniques, proper recovery routines, and mobility exercises.
Strengthening Exercises
As her pain subsided, we introduced exercises to strengthen the muscles in her feet and calves for proper support and to reduce stress on the plantar fascia.
Return to Activity
We gradually reintroduced her running routine, starting with shorter distances and lower intensity. We also educated her on proper footwear, warm-up and cool-down routines, and injury prevention strategies.
Over the course of several weeks, she experienced significant improvement in her pain and function. Best of all, she was able to resume her running routine and other activities she enjoyed with minimal discomfort.
Find Foot Pain Relief At TherapyWorks & Vibrant Health Solutions
If you are struggling with foot pain, don’t let it hold you back any longer. Our experienced physical therapists will conduct a thorough evaluation to identify the root cause of your pain and develop a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs and goals.
Call our clinic today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward recovery.
We’ve Moved!
We’re excited to share some big news. Our clinic has officially moved into an upgraded space! You can now find us at:
4931 W 6th Street, Ste 116, Lawrence, KS
Thank you for your patience as we made this transition. We’re getting settled into our new location and couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome you here. Whether you’re a new, present, or returning patient, we can’t wait to see you in the new space!
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FREE Workshop
Shoulder Pain and Rotator Cuff Webinar
March 4th
Shoulder Pain and Rotator Cuff Webinar • 6:30
With Cindy Johnson, M.S. P.T., MCMT, Owner/Director
FREE Workshop
Back Pain and Sciatica Webinar
March 18th
Back Pain and Sciatica Webinar • 6:30
With Cindy Johnson, M.S. P.T., MCMT, Owner/Director
Patient Success Story
“I went to TherapyWorks for an issue with my shoulder. They were easy to schedule with, and dealing with insurance was invisible to me. More importantly, I worked with three therapists altogether, and they were all great. They were all very patient and thorough in explaining the therapy and updating my progress in their system, so there was no overlap or wasted visits. I was very satisfied and will go back again if needed.”
— 5-Star Yelp Review
How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Pickleball Injuries
No matter what your skill level or experience with Pickleball, learning how to prepare your body correctly is the key to enjoying the sport. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, and the game is gaining more and more players every day.
Pickleball is an easy and fun way to stay active. The sport is similar to other racquet sports and is often played on modified tennis courts.
Unfortunately, people jump right into the sport without any preparation or training to prepare their bodies for the demands on their muscles, tendons, and joints. At TherapyWorks & Vibrant Health Solutions our physical therapists have proven success working with people of all ages to recover from injury and resume whatever sport they enjoy.
The most common injuries associated with Pickleball
As with any sport, injuries are part of playing the game of Pickleball. The sport’s popularity has opened it up to people of all ages. The game is easy to play for beginners and can also meet the requirements of a more competitive player with the possibility of a fast-paced match for singles or doubles. As the popularity grows, so too does the risk of injury.
The sport requires abrupt changes of direction and stopping and starting movements, all of which have been linked to non-contact injuries like sprains and strains. There is also the potential for falling and repetitive movement type injuries, especially to the upper extremities. Another potential risk of injury stems from the lack of preparation and the age of the deconditioned athletes.
The most common injuries in Pickleball include:
- Wrist fractures from falls
- Ankle sprains
- Achilles tendon injuries and inflammation
- Patella (knee cap) tendinopathies
- Hamstring, adductor (inner thigh), or quadriceps muscle strains
- Shoulder impingements and rotator cuff injuries
- Elbow tendonitis (Tennis elbow)
What to expect at physical therapy sessions
Physical therapy should start immediately following most injuries to ensure the fastest recovery possible. A physical therapist with experience treating sports-related injuries will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the injury’s severity and identify any other factor that may affect your ability to recover promptly.
Next, your therapist at TherapyWorks & Vibrant Health Solutions will create a targeted, individualized treatment plan for you to promote an accelerated recovery plan and prevent future injuries associated with Pickleball.
For example, your physical therapist will guide you through exercises designed to help the injury and return to your pre-injury abilities. We will start with pain management and restoring mobility to the injured area.
Request an appointment today!
At TherapyWorks & Vibrant Health Solutions, our therapists are experts at treating Pickleball-related injuries. We have proven success with treating athletes of all skill levels and ages.
Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists!
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6913863/, https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/Fulltext/2020/10000/Pickleball__Review_and_Clinical_Recommendations.8.aspx?context=LatestArticles, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0736467919307991, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431073/
At Vibrant Health Solutions, we want to help everyone get active in the ways that work for them. Call us today for personalized guidance on what will work best for you!
Healthy Recipe
One-Pan Baked Halibut Recipe with Vegetables
Tender halibut and bright vegetables tossed in a bold Mediterranean sauce with lots of citrus, olive oil, fresh garlic, and spices. An easy one-pan baked halibut recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes or less!
For the Sauce:
- Zest of 2 lemons
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons dill
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (plus a little extra for later)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
For the Fish & Vegetables:
- 1 1/2 pounds halibut fillet, sliced into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced into half-moons
Instructions:
Preheat: Set your oven to 425°F.
Make the sauce: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients until well combined.
Prep the vegetables: Add the green beans, cherry tomatoes, and sliced onion to the bowl with the sauce. Toss well to coat. Using a large slotted spoon or spatula, transfer the vegetables to a large, rimmed baking sheet (like a 21×15-inch pan). Arrange them in a single layer on one half of the baking sheet.
Prep the fish: Add the halibut pieces to the remaining sauce in the bowl and toss to coat. Transfer the halibut to the empty half of the baking sheet next to the vegetables. Pour any remaining sauce from the bowl evenly over the top of the fish and vegetables.
Season: Lightly sprinkle the entire pan with a little more seasoned salt.
Bake: Bake in the preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes.
Broil: Transfer the baking sheet to the top oven rack and turn the broiler on. Broil for another 3 minutes or so, watching carefully so it doesn’t burn. The cherry tomatoes should just begin to pop and blister under the broiler.
Serve: Remove the baked halibut and vegetables from the oven and serve immediately.
Exercise of the Month
Modified Piriformis Stretch
(Hips, Glutes, Sciatic Nerve)
Start by lying on the ground with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Cross one ankle over the opposite knee and gently apply pressure to the top knee to deepen the stretch. Hold for 30 seconds. Slowly lower your leg back to the floor and repeat on the other side. 3 Sets, 2 Reps.
