Imagine yourself going about your day, when suddenly you take a step and feel a shooting pain on the top part of your foot and/or ankle. Most likely, you’ve stopped in your tracks, and you may be wondering where this sudden pain came from. Does this scenario sound familiar to you? If so, you may be suffering from one of a number of common orthopedic issues.
Foot and ankle pain is not unusual in adults, and many of the causes can be treated without the need for surgery. But it is still important to visit a specialist, such as a physical therapist, who can diagnose the cause of your foot and ankle pain, as some conditions can grow worse if left untreated.
What could be causing shooting pain in the top of my foot and ankle?
A shooting pain on the top of your foot and ankle may be the result of one of many orthopedic conditions. A specialist in foot and ankle pain can help you diagnose the problem, which may be one of these four issues:
- Extensor tendinitis — The extensor muscles are located in the top of the foot and are used to flex or pull the foot upward. Tendinitis causes microscopic tears to form in the tendons that attach these muscles to your bones, resulting in pain and inflammation. This condition can occur in the extensor muscles due to overuse or from wearing ill-fitting footwear.
- Fractures — A fracture may be the cause of the pain in the top of your foot and ankle. Fractures may be caused by stress due to overuse or improper gait when walking and running. They may also be the result of injury, such as dropping a heavy object onto your foot or landing on it incorrectly.
- Nerve issues — If the pain in your foot is accompanied by numbness and a prickling or tingling feeling, it may be due to a nerve condition. Sometimes the nerves in our feet can become pinched, stressed or damaged because of an injury. Peripheral neuropathy is one condition that can be caused by damaged nerves.
- Osteoarthritis — Adults over the age of 65 may experience pain and stiffness in their joints, especially in weight-bearing joints such as the knees, feet and ankles. These symptoms may be due to osteoarthritis, which is a condition that results from the natural wear and tear in our joints as we grow older. The cartilage between our joints grows thinner as we age, causing our bones to rub against one another, which can make movement difficult and painful.
Can physical therapy help treat the pain in the top of my foot and ankle?
If you’ve been experiencing sudden, shooting pain in the top of your foot and ankle, let a licensed physical therapist help you find out why. Physical therapy is an effective treatment for many common causes of foot and ankle pain. Not only can physical therapy help to reduce your pain, but many of the trusted methods used by physical therapists also help prevent injury in the future. Some of these methods may include:
Trust Panther Physical Therapy to treat your foot and ankle pain and get you back on your feet quicker. Our team of licensed physical therapy specialists can help to diagnose many causes of foot pain and will work with you to craft a physical therapy plan that is suited to your needs and your schedule.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.