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Foot and Ankle Pain

Empathy Physical Therapy treats plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, ankle pain and foot pain with one-on-one physical therapy in your home. Your feet carry you through every step of the day, and when they hurt, everything gets harder. We find what’s causing the pain and help you walk comfortably again.

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What we treat

Click any condition below to read more about it and how we approach treatment.

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the heel and arch, often worst with the first steps in the morning or after sitting. It’s an irritation of the thick band of tissue along the bottom of the foot, often linked to a jump in activity, tight calves, footwear or long hours on hard floors.

Most people improve with conservative care. Treatment usually includes calf and foot stretching, strengthening, hands-on work, and changes to footwear and activity. It can take patience: symptoms often improve over several weeks to a few months.

A heel spur is a bony growth on the heel bone, often found alongside plantar fasciitis. The spur itself isn’t always what hurts; the irritated tissue around it usually is. That’s why many people with heel spurs find relief without surgery, using the same approach as plantar fasciitis.

Lingering ankle pain often follows a sprain that never fully healed, leaving the ankle stiff, weak or prone to rolling again. Arthritis and tendon problems can also cause pain around the ankle.

Treatment restores motion, builds strength and retrains balance so the ankle feels stable again.

Pain in the arch, the ball of the foot or the toes can make walking and standing uncomfortable. Causes include arthritis, tendon irritation, changes in the foot’s arch and footwear. We look at how your foot moves and how you walk, then target the source.

A difference in leg length, whether structural or from how the hips and pelvis sit, can change how you walk and contribute to foot, knee, hip or back pain. Treatment may include gait training, strengthening, mobility work and guidance on shoe lifts when appropriate.

Not sure if it needs treatment?

Start with a free phone consult. Talk through what you're feeling, learn some ways to manage it, and get an honest answer about whether physical therapy makes sense.

How we help

We’ll look at your feet, and also at how you walk and how your hips and knees are working, since foot pain often has help from above. Treatment may include manual therapy, dry needling, stretching and strengthening, and guidance on footwear and activity. Being at home means we can look at the shoes you actually wear and the floors you actually stand on.

When to see a doctor first

See a doctor if:

  • You can't bear weight after an injury
  • You have a wound on your foot that isn't healing (especially with diabetes or neuropathy)
  • Your foot is hot, red and swollen

Common questions

Do I need orthotics?

Some people benefit from them, many don’t. We’ll look at your feet and shoes and let you know if they’re worth trying.

Usually not completely. We’ll help you adjust how much and what kind of activity you do so you can stay active while it heals.

Many people improve over several weeks to a few months with consistent treatment. Starting early tends to help.

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