Sports are hard on the body. Even professionals, like Texas Rangers’ player Kyle Blanks, go down with lower limb injuries sometimes. Blanks developed tendonitis in both Achilles tendons—but you can bet he has a therapy team working to get him back into shape! It’s cases like this that highlight just how physical therapy helps feet. Of course, physical therapy isn’t just for professionals. It can benefit your feet and ankles, too.

Physical therapy is a wide field. It covers treatments for many different limbs and activities. Many people think of it in context of a knee or shoulder injury, or after some kind of surgery. It isn’t just limited to big joints, however. It can actually be very helpful for your feet and ankles in different situations. It maintains or improves your flexibility and range of motion, as well as builds up your foot strength.

This is helpful for a variety of issues. You could be a weekend warrior-type athlete looking to recover from an injury you developed during a game. You could be a senior trying to stay active, even with early arthritis in your lower limbs. You could be just an average worker seeking relief from overuse issues you developed on the job. Whether or not physical therapy for feet will work for you depends entirely on your condition, your needs, and your willingness to complete the treatment.

A trained specialist goes over your diagnoses and determines what will be most helpful for your feet and ankles. From there, he or she will establish a plan of exercises that you can easily do on your own to stretch and strengthen your lower limbs the way you need. The key is, of course, actually going through with the therapy on your own at home once you’ve been taught what to do.

Exactly how physical therapy helps feet and ankles will vary from case to case. Don’t shy away from it because you think it’s “not for your situation” or you don’t believe it will help. It can make a real difference for foot and ankle comfort. Dr. Darren Silvester and our team at Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic in Pleasanton, TX, fully believe in its benefits, so we’re happy to help you get started. Just call (830) 569-3338 to make an appointment with us.