Reports of ankle or foot pain in the general population reached up to 55%. This pain can come from a number of reasons, a few of the common being over pronation or supination, ankle sprains, arthritis or the dreaded plantar fasciitis. The ankle is a vital part of the body that is often overlooked. If someone has limited ankle mobility, then it can cause problems with how they walk, ascend or descend stairs, squatting/lifting, and most of their daily activities. Having limitations in ankle strength or mobility can greatly affect the knee and how it functions as well as on up the kinetic chain.
Odds are, you or someone you know has experienced pain in their feet. Insoles, orthotics and braces can be effective, but those typically only treat the symptoms. It is important to get to the root cause of the pain in order to achieve lasting outcomes. In normal gait, the arch of the foot produces a spring mechanism. This mechanism produces 15-20% of the force needed during a normal stride. Oftentimes, this mechanism is not being used correctly which leads to greater strain on the plantar fascia and intrinsic muscles of the foot. Improving someone’s gait is an important step in reducing foot/ankle pain.
