Physiotherapy for
Ankle and foot
The ankle and foot must adapt to very different loads. We assess mobility, stability and the ability to absorb and produce force.
Understanding the problem
Not only where it hurts.
What it stops you doing matters.
The ankle and foot absorb energy and produce force with every step. Pain or injuries in this area can affect how we move. That is why we work on mobility, muscle capacity and balance.
The pathway includes exercises that prepare you for the loads of real activities: walking, standing, running, jumping and changing direction. For a return to sport, we gradually increase exercise speed and complexity, always monitoring the response to load in the hours that follow.
When it may help
We begin with what
is limiting you.
These examples provide orientation but do not replace an individual healthcare assessment.
- Sprains
- Instability
- Foot pain
- Difficulty running
Conditions and recovery needs
Physiotherapy may be appropriate for the conditions listed below. Assessment determines whether and how it can help; after trauma or surgery, the pathway follows the medical specialist’s guidance.
- Ankle sprains and residual instability
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
- Stiffness and loss of strength after immobilisation
- Recovery after trauma and muscle or ligament injuries
How we work
A pathway that changes
with you.
Symptom management
Joint mobility recovery
Balance and strength
Return to specific movement
During your assessment
What we look at.
- Swelling, pain and ankle mobility
- Balance and single-leg control
- Foot, calf and lower-limb strength
- Walking, running and the demands of your sport
Concrete goals
Where we want to get to.
- Walk with a more secure foot strike
- Recover foot and ankle mobility and strength throughout the lower limb
- Reduce episodes of giving way
- Return to running, jumping and changing direction
Frequently asked questions
Before you begin,
let’s make it clear.
Once pain settles, is a sprain fully recovered?
Not always. Mobility, strength, balance and load tolerance may still require progression after pain has reduced.
Do I always need an ankle brace?
It depends on the stage, activity and individual picture. When useful, support is considered alongside active rehabilitation rather than as the only solution.
Can I start running straight away?
Return is more appropriate when walking, strength and control are adequate and the ankle tolerates progressive load without an excessive reaction.
Following major trauma, with visible deformity, inability to bear weight, a very hot swollen joint with fever, or sudden loss of strength or sensation, seek prompt advice from a healthcare professional.
The first step