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Foot and Ankle Physical Therapy

If you are experiencing foot and ankle pain or have recently suffered an injury, our highly trained physical therapists at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center are here to help! We offer personalized care and a range of treatment options to help you regain mobility, reduce pain and improve your quality of life. Contact one of our offices in the Greater Columbus area today to schedule a consultation!

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Topic at a Glance

  • Orthopedic physical therapy helps reduce foot and ankle pain, restore mobility, and improve strength, flexibility, and balance.
  • Physical therapy can support recovery before and after surgery, as well as treatment for sports injuries, chronic pain, and other foot and ankle conditions.
  • Treatment may include therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, dry needling, balance training, and gait analysis.
  • Each rehabilitation plan is tailored to the patient’s condition and goals, with progress monitored and treatment adjusted as needed.

Related Services

Benefits of Physical Therapy

Orthopedic physical therapy is effective in reducing pain, improving joint mobility and muscle strength, and enhancing balance and coordination. We offer personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs to help you achieve your goals for recovery. Working with an orthopedic physical therapist will allow you to regain mobility and improve your quality of life.

Do I Need Surgery?

Visiting an orthopedic surgeon doesn’t mean that surgery is necessary. Our orthopedic doctors always prefer to use non-surgical procedures to treat injuries.

What Our Patients Say

“The staff is very courteous and caring. I like the atmosphere. I like the fact they have a store on site to buy the items you need for surgery. The physical therapy department is awesome also. They know what they are doing and are committed to getting back on your feet (pun intended).” — Katie M.

One of the most commonly treated areas in orthopedic physical therapy is the foot and ankle, which are prone to injury and pain. An ankle injury, in particular, can be debilitating and require a comprehensive rehabilitation program to ensure a full recovery.

What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a healthcare profession that aims to help people recover from injuries, illnesses, and disabilities that affect their movement and function. 

Physical therapy can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including sports injuries, chronic pain, arthritis, neurological disorders, and post-surgical rehabilitation. Physical therapy is often recommended as a non-invasive, conservative treatment option before considering more invasive interventions such as surgery.

What Is Orthopedic Physical Therapy?

Orthopedic physical therapy is a specialized field of physical therapy that focuses on the treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. This includes foot and ankle conditions that affect the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the body.

Exercises that are commonly used in orthopedic physical therapy for the feet include stretching, strengthening, and balance training exercises. Stretching exercises can help improve flexibility and range of motion in the feet, while strengthening exercises can aid in building up the muscles that support the feet. Balance training exercises help to improve stability and prevent falls.

A physical therapist in Columbus, OH working on a patient's foot injury.

What Does an Orthopedic Physical Therapist Do?

Orthopedic physical therapists are healthcare professionals who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. They work with patients to develop treatment plans that address their unique needs and help them achieve their rehabilitation goals.

One of the key responsibilities of an orthopedic physical therapist is to assess patients and diagnose their conditions. They work with a wide range of patients, including those recovering from injuries or surgeries, those with chronic pain or disabilities, and those seeking to improve their athletic performance. Orthopedic physical therapists may also work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, sports facilities, and private practices.

Orthopedic physical therapists use their knowledge of anatomy and physiology to identify the underlying cause of a patient’s symptoms and determine the best course of treatment. This may involve conducting a physical exam, reviewing medical records and imaging studies, and assessing a patient’s movements and functional abilities.

Based on their diagnosis, orthopedic physical therapists then develop a treatment plan that may include exercises, manual techniques, and other interventions to address a patient’s specific needs. They may prescribe exercises to improve range of motion, strength, and flexibility, as well as manual techniques such as massage and joint mobilization to help reduce pain and improve function.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) provides guidelines and standards of practice for orthopedic physical therapists to ensure that patients receive safe and effective care. These guidelines help physical therapists stay up to date with the latest research and techniques in the field and ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care.

How Orthopedic Physical Therapy Can Help You

Physical therapy in Columbus, OH.

One of the primary goals of orthopedic physical therapy is to strengthen the body to improve its ability to function properly. This involves developing targeted exercises and stretches that focus on specific muscle groups, joints, and movement patterns. By doing so, orthopedic physical therapy can help improve your strength, flexibility, range of motion, and overall physical functioning.

Orthopedic physical therapy also involves a thorough evaluation of your specific needs and abilities. This evaluation helps the therapist to develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include a prescription for exercises and other therapeutic interventions. By tailoring the treatment to your unique needs, orthopedic physical therapy can help ensure you receive the most effective care possible.

What Conditions Are Treated at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center?

At Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center, our physical therapists treat a broad range of orthopedic conditions. Though our practice specializes in post-surgical rehab, our therapists have extensive training in pre-surgical and non-operative conditions, including:

What Types of Treatment Methods Are Used in Orthopedic Physical Therapy?

There are several different types of treatment methods and special exercises that are used in orthopedic physical therapy, including:

  • Cold therapy
  • Manual therapy
  • Soft tissue mobilization
  • Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization
  • Blood Flow Restriction training (BFR)
  • Dry needling
  • Therapeutic exercise
  • Balance training
  • Gait analysis and training
  • Return-to-running
  • Scar mobilization

What Should I Expect From Orthopedic Physical Therapy?

If you are seeking orthopedic physical therapy, you can expect a comprehensive rehabilitation program designed to help you recover from your injury or condition and regain your mobility and function.

The first step in an orthopedic physical therapy program is a thorough assessment by a licensed physical therapist. During this assessment, your therapist will evaluate your medical history, current symptoms, range of motion, strength, and flexibility. Based on this information, your therapist will create an individualized rehabilitation program that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.

The rehabilitation program may include a combination of therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, and other treatments such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, or heat and ice therapy. Therapeutic exercises will be designed to improve your strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Manual therapy may include techniques such as massage, joint mobilization, or stretching.

Other treatments that may be used in an orthopedic physical therapy program include braces, splints, or custom orthotics. These devices can help support and stabilize injured joints or muscles and can aid in the healing process.

Throughout your orthopedic physical therapy program, your therapist will monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed. You can expect to work closely with your therapist, as well as any other healthcare providers involved in your care, to achieve the best possible outcome.

Get the Help You Need!

At Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Center, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive care to help you get back on your feet. Our team of experienced specialists and other professionals will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs and goals.

If you are ready to take the first step towards relieving your foot or ankle pain, contact us today to schedule an appointment at one of our offices in Columbus, OH! We are here to help you get back to your active lifestyle and live your life to the fullest.

Medically Reviewed by: Corey J. Griffith, DPM

FAQs About Foot and Ankle Physical Therapy

Orthopedic physical therapy focuses on the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions affecting bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. For foot and ankle problems, treatment aims to reduce pain, improve movement, and help patients return to their daily activities.

Physical therapists at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center treat a range of conditions and injuries, including ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, bunions, and neuromas. They also help patients recover from surgery and manage non-operative foot and ankle pain.

Treatment may include therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, soft tissue mobilization, dry needling, balance training, and gait training. Depending on the patient’s needs, the therapist may also recommend cold therapy, scar mobilization, or supportive devices such as braces and custom orthotics.

Your physical therapist will review your medical history and symptoms and assess your strength, flexibility, range of motion, and movement. They will then develop an individualized rehabilitation plan based on your condition and recovery goals.

Physical therapy is a conservative treatment option that may improve pain, strength, mobility, and function without surgery. Whether it can adequately address your condition depends on the underlying problem and its severity. Your orthopedic provider can help determine which treatments are appropriate.

Meet Our

Physical Therapists

Joshua Banks, DPT

Joshua Banks, DPT

Physical Therapy Clinical Director

lisa-brinker

Lisa Brinker, DPT

Physical Therapist

Shannon Manuche, DPT

Shannon Manuche, DPT

Physical Therapist

Amy Craig

Amy Craig, PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

Kelly Rhodes, DPT

Kelly Rhodes, DPT

Physical Therapist

Felipe Mamede PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

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