Physical therapy is a safe and effective method of pain treatment. It’s especially helpful at getting people back to their normal daily tasks. A physical therapist will examine you and then develop a plan to help your painful ankle feel better. They might do things like apply soft tissue mobilization or use Active Release Techniques® to help your joints move. Thanks to these two physical therapy methods, you can find relief for ankle pain in Berkeley, California.
How can these two physical therapy methods be helpful for ankle pain?
- Soft tissue mobilization — Your physical therapist may perform soft tissue mobilization to address the causes of symptoms like pain and stiffness in the ankle. Soft tissue mobilization is an intervention that utilizes massage-like movements.
These movements allow physical therapists to treat compromised soft tissue structures. Some of these include:
- Muscles.
- Ligaments.
- Tendons.
- Fascia.
Any of these structures may be the underlying source of your ankle pain.
- Active Release Techniques® — Active Release Techniques (ART) is a physical therapy category used to treat ankle pain, and can help address pain in your muscles, other soft tissue and joints. This type of physical therapy can help relieve discomfort caused by ankle pain, too. ART is effective for treating many different types of musculoskeletal disorders including arthritis, ligament injuries, muscle strains or stiffness.
The physical therapist uses their hands to apply gentle pressure to tight muscle groups that are causing your pain. They will also move joints through their natural range of motion by applying gentle pressure on them with their hands. The pressure and movement can help stretch out the tightened tissue around the joint. It can also help reduce inflammation and stimulate blood circulation, which can aid in the healing process of injured tissue.
Get help with your ankle pain at SOL’s physical therapy clinic in Berkeley
If you suffer from ankle pain, physical therapy can be a great way to address its root cause and reduce your pain. Pain in this area is common if your ligaments are weak or overstretched due to an injury like a sprain. Fortunately, physical therapists at SOL’s physical therapy clinic in Berkeley offer supportive care that can help patients heal faster and prevent future injuries.
Contact our team today for more information about the services we offer for ankle pain or to schedule an initial appointment with us.
