Professional Ankle & Feet Pain Treatment in Calgary
With 26 bones and 33 small joints, your foot is perhaps one of the most used regions of your body. The tendons, muscles, and other soft tissues work together in a complex way to allow your feet and ankles to move. And this complex mechanism is why your ankle is particularly prone to injury.
A lot of the time, any pain in these areas could just be temporary. You could chalk it up to strain or usual wear and tear. It’s when the pain lingers for over a week and, over time, becomes chronic (lasting for 3 months+) that concern might seep in. And you’re right to address it.
Ancle or Feet Pain? MYo Lab can help – schedule your visit today.
Meet our team of skilled professionals who wake up every day with a commitment to make a difference in your journey to wellness. Our Chiropractors, massage therapists, and physiotherapists work together to provide comprehensive care, ensuring that all aspects of your health and well-being are addressed.
“Zack’s knowledge is expertly put to practice in his massage techniques. He was adept to provide the nuances of appropriate pressure as he managed my tight shoulder and calf muscles. Fantastic teamwork to treat my recovery from a trimalleolar ankle fracture. So pleased with the care and attention that supported increasing my ankle range of motion and dealing with scar tissue pain. Your treatments provided opportunities for the whole body to stay aligned as mobility changed. Thank you Dr. Evan Schwindt”
Jeanine L.
“I sprained my left ankle really bad 10 years ago and my left foot has been weak and 2 years ago I realized I was limping so I went to a physio downtown. I was sent to take an ultrasound and found out the ATFL was fully torn.
I came to MYo to see Chantelle 2 months ago. After some examination Chantelle pointed out that I was having a SI joint dysfunction and the misplacement of the left hip joint was pinching my nerves and that’s why I can’t engage my left glutes. After a 6 week program to adjust the joints with Chantelle and strengthening the muscles, now I am able to use Left glutes and been walking better.”
J L
“I’m a local track athlete, and MYo lab has helped me reach my personal best over the last 3 months. They have an array of services such as personal training, massage, chiropractic and acupuncture, all of which have helped me reach my full potential!”
Aiden G.
Experience the difference – schedule your visit today.
There are several reasons for long-term pain. These are:
Arthritis
Achilles tendinitis
Plantar fasciitis
Stress fracture
Sprained ankle
Gout
Bursitis
Bunions
Morton’s neuroma
Bone spurs
Fallen arches
Lupus
Tendinopathy
Callus
Hammertoe
Improperly fitted shoes
Infection
Scleroderma
Sprains and Strains
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Poorly fitting footwear
Sign and Symptoms
The most obvious symptom is pain, of course. In addition to that, you may see:
Redness and bruising in the area and the surrounding region.
Localized or generalized swelling in the ankle or foot.
Swelling may worsen with activity or at the end of the day.
Limited range of motion in the ankle or foot.
Pain when touching or pressing on specific areas.
Difficulty bearing weight.
A grinding or cracking sensation or sound in the joint.
If you experience any of these symptoms, especially if they persist or worsen, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Chiropractic Approach to Treating Ankle/Feet Pain
We’re trained to assess and treat musculoskeletal issues, including those affecting the ankles and feet. To address pain and dysfunction in these areas, we use a combination of hands-on techniques, therapeutic exercises, and lifestyle recommendations.
But first, we get to the bottom of the problem. It’s not about quick fixes to manage temporary symptoms. Our approach will completely depend on each of our patient’s needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Broadly speaking, for conditions like arthritis, tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis, our team will employ joint mobilization, soft tissue techniques, and rehabilitative exercises to reduce inflammation, improve mobility, and strengthen surrounding muscles.
In cases of acute injuries such as sprained ankles or stress fractures, we focus on providing supportive care to promote healing and restore proper joint function. This may involve immobilization techniques, Cold Laser, gentle adjustments and/or stretches to compensating areas, and personalised rehabilitation programs.
For chronic conditions like gout, bunions, or Morton’s neuroma, our approach is holistic approaches to manage symptoms, including dietary and lifestyle recommendations, ergonomic adjustments, and supportive therapies (including, but not limited to, Shockwave Therapy, Custom Foot Orthotics, etc.) to alleviate pain and discomfort.
It also comes down to underlying biomechanical issues that contribute to foot and ankle problems, such as fallen arches, hammertoes, or improperly fitted shoes. Here, we want to correct alignment issues and provide guidance on proper footwear and foot care to prevent further complications.
The focus is always to slowly and gradually improve mobility—to keep you moving.
For more on our approach, watch Dr. Evan Schwindt as he takes you through an entire ankle rehabilitation protocol from top to bottom.
Our Calgary Location
MYo Lab Health & Wellness is located at 227 10 St NW, Suite 300, Calgary, Alberta. It’s a short 5-minute walk from the Sunnyside C-Train station.
Parking: We offer 5 complimentary parking spots out back (spots 209, 213, 214, 215, 216). There are also several 2-hour paid parking spots on the streets around us. Additionally, there are two parking lots across the street from our building, one outdoor parking lot and one underground parking lot.
If you need further direction, feel free to call (403) 930-8686 for assistance.
Most noise associated with joint movements (crepitus) is completely harmless and is a result of air moving around the joint fluid. In the ankles, this can happen during motions like squats or when circling the foot. Many people who have a history of ankle sprains will find their ankles make more noise than average. If there’s no pain associated with the sound and no signs of soreness in the area increasing over a period of time (usually a couple of months), the joint noises are not usually a cause for concern. If there is tension or discomfort associated with the sounds, then it’s important to have your ankles evaluated so that any muscle imbalances can be corrected with soft tissue techniques and strengthening.
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition characterised by inflammation of the plantar fascia—a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot—connecting the heel bone to the toes. It often presents as heel pain, especially with the first steps in the morning or after periods of rest.
Plantar fasciitis typically develops gradually and can be caused by factors such as overuse, improper footwear, high-impact activities, flat feet, or tight calf muscles. Treatment for plantar fasciitis usually involves stretching exercises, Custom Foot Orthotics, supportive footwear, and icing. Shockwave Therapy is one of the most researched techniques to aid in one’s recovery from plantar fasciitis. It’s important to figure out the underlying cause of the symptoms you’re experiencing with a gait or movement assessment.
Are orthotics bad?
Orthotics are meant to be used as a supportive structure for how you currently walk or run. Not everybody needs orthotics, but everybody can benefit from them. Having multiple pairs for your most common footwear worn daily is most effective in supporting your movement patterns, and makes it easy to wear them since you don’t have to remember to switch your orthotic to your other shoes. People typically experience mild discomfort when initially wearing orthotics but integrate gradually in 30 to 60-minute intervals throughout the day to reduce pain levels early on.
Orthotics serve a great purpose: They buy your foot time to heal through more optimal positioning. This is drastically assisted by proper manual therapy and rehab provided by your healthcare professional, which functionally builds your foot strength while the orthotics help to properly displace and absorb energy from your foot striking the ground.
Should I wear barefoot shoes?
Barefoot shoes have gained a lot of attention recently because they allow the foot to return to a more natural shape, which can improve its function. However, these types of shoes are not appropriate for everyone, particularly those with rigid feet or people whose legs are significantly different lengths (i.e., a “leg-length inequality”).
Generally speaking, if your body feels best when you’re walking around barefoot at home, you may be a good candidate for switching to barefoot shoes. However, it’s best to have your feet & gait evaluated and to start gradually, building up strength in your feet, ankles, legs, & hips to support your walking in barefoot shoes. Most people can earn their way into these shoes if they want, but these shoes are not best for everyone.
If when you start to wear them, you experience moderate to marked pain, it’s advised you set up an assessment with your healthcare professional to ensure the discomfort is not causing suboptimal tissue damage that may affect your foot or gait and other aspects of your body long-term.
Are bunions genetic?
There are genetic components to bunions, but bunions themselves are not genetic. Contributing genetic factors are things like how flexible your ligaments are (hypermobile individuals are more prone to bunions) and the shape of your feet.
Non-genetic factors are things like what shoes you wear, how often you go barefoot, and your gait and walking patterns. A lot of those habits also come from childhood, based on what your parents did and wore. Early intervention with bunions can slow their progression and help you avoid surgery if that’s your goal.
Why do I have a bunion?
Bunions form as a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors. Contributing genetic factors are things like how flexible your ligaments are (hypermobile individuals are more prone to bunions) and the shape of your feet. Non-genetic factors, as mentioned above, are things like what shoes you wear, how often you go barefoot, and your gait and walking patterns. A lot of those habits also come from childhood. Pinpointing the exact reason why you have a bunion is difficult; however, habits can be changed, footwear modified (including custom foot orthotics with specific modifications to better support a bunion), and exercises prescribed to help reduce the symptoms of a bunion and slow any progression.
How do I fix my ankle sprain?
An ankle sprain, or really any ankle “tweak”, is best fixed by a thorough rehab program. Ankle sprains are said to be the most common injury to the human body. It’s tempting to just “walk off” ankle sprains, but the ligaments that are often damaged are a critical component of the body’s proprioceptive system, and rehabbing them can help to restore the brain’s ability to know where the joints are in space. Furthermore, strengthening the ankle & foot can help prevent a sprain in the future. Studies have shown failure to properly rehab initially can lead to chronic ankle instability, which can have long-term effects such as pain and changes in gait as your body works to compensate through this instability to keep you moving.
The best way to fix an ankle sprain is to have it evaluated by a healthcare professional so they can recommend the best approach to treatment and rehabilitation to provide the best possible outcome.
