The foot is a highly detailed and intricate part of the body, with close relationships between the many bones, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues. A problem in one area of the foot can quickly lead to problems not only elsewhere in the foot, but also the knee, hip and lower back.

Like the hand, the foot is a very intricate and proper testing is needed. We strain and stress all the structures (like muscle, tendons, ligaments, joints, etc.) to determine what needs to be done. We don’t simply treat the symptoms, our goal is to identify, address and correct the underlying cause of the problem to get you back on your feet as soon as possible.

The foot is an amazing anatomical structure. One quarter of all the bones in your body are in your feet. Each foot contains 28 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 10 muscles; and over 250,000 sweat glands that produce as much as 250mls of sweat per day.

Each person’s case is unique and we want to address your specific needs. If you would like us to investigate or provide some insight, we invite you to contact us by clicking the link below.

Our professional experience with foot pain

Pain in the heel are the most common foot pain we treat. This is usually due to shortening of the calf muscles that pull on the heel bone (calcareous).

We play a vital role in accelerating the healing of metatarsal fractures, assessment and mobilization of joints. We have made significant improvement with patients suffering from plantar fascitis (pain in the heel and arch of the foot, very stiff and uncomfortable in the morning or after rest), to metatarsalgia (pain under the ball of the foot, especially painful after a period of walking/running).

Foot pain, Foot injuries, Foot muscle pain

Common foot injuries we treat:

Symptoms of foot injuries

Mild

  • Pain in the arch of the foot
  • Limping
  • Pain after activity
  • Stiffness in the morning
  • Swelling

Moderate

  • Bleeding in arch of foot
  • Unable to put weight on foot
  • Pain at rest
  • Unable to move the toes

Dangerous

  • Numbness, Pins & Needles in toes
  • Sharp electrical pain shooting into the calf and shin
  • Skin colour changes in the toes (blue or redness)

Diagnosis

Physiotherapist are trained to test and examine the intricate structures in the foot. We will be able to guide you if further investigations are necessary and send you for any necessary scans that may clarify the problem. Our Physiotherapist will determine if X-rays, Sonar, CT-scan or MRI is necessary to determine the cause of your foot pain.

Foot injuries – Initial treatment

PRICE protocol

KEYACTION
P – ProtectProtect the ankle by taping, splinting or using a brace to prevent pull on the injured ligaments.
Using crutches with partial weight bearing will rest the ligament and aid in the healing.
Crutches will help you to get around without putting weight on your ankle.
R – RestUsing crutches with partial weight bearing will rest the ligament and aid in the healing.Crutches will help you to get around without putting weight on your ankle.
I – IceThis reduces pain & inflammation and speeds up the healing process. For at least the first 3 days or until the swelling goes down, apply an ice pack for 20 minutes every two hours.
Always keep a towel between the ice and your skin (to prevent a clod burn), and press the ice pack firmly against all the curves of your ankle.
C – CompressThis can be done either with taping or tube grip bandage and helps to control swelling.In our experience, ankle taping/ strapping is much more effective at preventing certain ankle movements compared to generic ankle braces.
E – ElevateElevation during rest periods also helps to control swelling, bruising and promote healing.
Raise your ankle above the level of your heart for 15 minute intervals during the day.

Foot Pain can be …

Foot Pain Treatment

  • Acute injury treatment
  • Ultrasound
  • Medications
  • Soft tissue massage
  • Electrotherapy treatment
  • Laser (Low Level Laser therapy)
  • Acupuncture & Dry Needling
  • Heat packs (Thermal therapy)
  • Kinesiology Tape
  • Rigid Strapping or taping
  • Neurodynamics (Nerve tissue mobilizations)
  • Dynamic Strapping
  • Strengthening exercises
  • Guided loading protocol
  • Stretches (Static, dynamic and ballistic)
  • Moon boot
  • Brace
  • Compression Bandage or Sleeve
  • Supportive strapping and taping
  • Biomechanical Analysis
  • Gait Analysis
  • TENS

Why is your foot pain lasting longer than expected?

  • You believed the pain would go away over time (on its own) but it didn’t

  • You went to the Doctor who told you to rest and take painkillers. The painkillers helped to relieve the immediate pain but didn’t help your injured foot. As soon as the painkillers wore off, the foot pain returned

  • A family member (or friend) told you that “Everybody experiences foot pain as they grow older,” and that you should just accepted it

  • In the past you went to other Healthcare Professionals (or a Physiotherapist) but nothing they said or did seemed to help

  • YouTube exercises and home remedies didn’t help relieve the pain, or in some cases made the foot pain ten times worse

  • You thought it would be a good idea to rest because your foot was so sore. However, afterwards your foot felt even worse than before

  • You went for massages, hoping they would relieve the pain. The massages felt pleasant and relaxing, but didn’t do anything to fix your foot pain in the long term

Experiencing these situations or applying similar advice and not getting results is a good thing. Why? Because these experiences help you know what doesn’t work for you. It means that you are closer to finding out what does work for you!

We invite you to book an appointment with a Physiotherapist (at our Pretoria practice). During an appointment we assess your symptoms, diagnose the cause, educate you about what is happening in your body and then start treatment. See our FAQ for more in depth information about what to expect from a physiotherapy session.

Alternatively, click the link below to book a FREE phone call. The phone call is complimentary and there is no obligation to book any appointments with us after the call is over. This is an opportunity to get an expert’s advice about your situation. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision about what to do next concerning your muscle pain.

Choose a Cilliers & Swart Physiotherapist to aid you in getting rid of your foot pain

What can we do for you?

  • We quickly put an end to pain and stiffness – often within a couple of sessions

  • We help you find out what is going on in your body and help you understand the root cause of your foot pain

  • Pain can rob you of sleep or rest. We make it easier for you to return to your normal sleeping patterns and positions so that your energy and potential for recovery increases

  • Cilliers & Swart Physiotherapists closely manage and treat your problem. We also provide you with related exercises to speed up your recovery

  • Using painkillers in the long-term can be harmful to your health. We help you lower or completely stop your need for painkillers to manage pain

  • Our physiotherapists safeguard you against dangerous and costly surgeries and painful injections

  • We reduce visits to specialists or doctors who only order you to take more pills

  • Foot pain can limit the activities you enjoy with your family and friends. Our experts help you get back to spending quality time on the activities you (and your loved ones) like

  • We can get you to walk longer than 15 minutes without feeling that your foot is weak, in pain or about to collapse

In short, we help you get back to living life free from foot pain. For information about costs and availability, click the button below:

4 steps to get rid of foot pain quickly.

  • Decide to get help.
    Many people put off going for treatment, that by the time they receive treatment the injury has worsened over time or caused other problems. Don’t think that foot pain will ‘just go away with time’. It might sound brave to ‘put up with pain’ over an extended period of time, but the lack of treatment could end up costing you more in terms of time (for recovery) and resources (money) the longer you wait.

  • Do the RIGHT exercises.
    One of the best things to help ease your foot pain is an appropriate series of progressed exercises (as advised by your Physiotherapist or Health Professional). The right kind of activities can reduce your pain and increase your range of movement. Above all, exercises ensure that problems don’t come back. However, the wrong kind of exercises have the potential to increase the pain in your foot even more.

  • Avoid sitting still for long periods.
    The worst thing you can do is to ‘rest’ in a sitting position for too long. As a safety measure we recommend specific strengthening exercises for better posture. We can help you get active by combining these exercises with our Physiotherapists’ hands-on treatment.

  • Get hands-on Physiotherapy treatment.
    Physiotherapy is proven to improve the lives of people suffering from foot pain. Your foot pain could be affecting your physical performance in a professional or private capacity. It could even threaten your independence or get in the way of spending quality time with family and friends. Physiotherapy can enable you to live the life you desire as quickly as possible.

If you would like to know how the Physiotherapy team at Cilliers & Swart can help you, we invite you to book a FREE, no-obligation, risk-free “Call me back” phone call.

Note: This Free Call is a service we offer to people who are nervous or unsure. You might not know if Physiotherapy is the right treatment for you. If you are unsure, please fill out our online form. We will contact you to find out what is wrong and how we can help. There is no financial obligation or risk on your part. You have nothing to lose except your pain.