What is a foot fracture?
A foot fracture is a break in the continuity of any bone that makes up your foot. If you have fractured a bone in your foot, there is a likelihood that you may have damaged ligaments supporting the joint in the process
What causes a foot fracture?
There are several ways that you could fracture your foot, but fractures usually result from force to the bone by: There are several ways that you could fracture your foot, but fractures usually result from force to the bone by:
- Direct impact - tripping, landing awkwardly from a fall, kicking something heavy
- Repetitive force - pushing repeatedly, causing excessive, overuse, physical stresses.
- Indirect impact - referred shockwave from impact to hip, knee or ankle.
Above: A foot assesment through palpation of the bones.What are the symptoms of a foot fracture?
If you have a foot fracture, below are some of the symptoms you may experience:
- Pain in the area of injury, especially with movement and pressure.
- Bruising or discolouration quickly following the injury
- Visible deformity in the normal shape of the foot.
- Swelling in your ankle/foot, giving you a sensation of tightness.
- Unable to weight bear on your injured foot
- Tenderness
On occasion, ankle fractures can disturb your nerve tissue. If this has occurred you may have:
- Loss of sensation in your foot/ankle
- Tingling or pins and needles
- Altered sensation in your foot/ankle, such as coldness.
How is a foot fracture Diagnosed?
Severe joint sprains can sometimes feel same as a fracture but different treatment is required. This is why it is important to get your injury assessed if you have any of the symptoms mentioned. Seek medical attention through accident and emergency, it is likely that you will require an X-ray.
Depending on the severity of your foot fracture, which can be identified through X-ray results, your foot may need time to rest. Most foot fractures will be put into a cast, and you will be asked not to weight bear on your foot for a minimum of 6 weeks.
Other more severe fractures may require metal work such as screws, wires or plates to help stabilise your foot before healing begins. Your doctor will make this decision.
For either case, it is likely you will require an assistive device to walk, such as crutches. Physiotherapy will for an important part in your recovery and rehabilitation following diagnosis whether surgical intervention is required or not.
For more information on how physiotherapy can help treat fractures, please email office@liverpoolphysio.co.uk or ring us on 0151 558 0077.
What would a physiotherapy assessment for a foot fracture involve?
Once your foot fracture has had time to begin healing, you will have follow up x-rays. When your foot is strong enough, physiotherapy can help to strengthen and increase the mobility in your ankle and foot, and help you to slowly bear more weight onto your foot.
At Liverpool Physio, we want to gain as much information as possible about your injury to ensure we give you the best treatment. In your first appointment with us, our physiotherapists will carry out an assessment which has two parts:
Subjective Assessment
A conversation between yourself and our physiotherapist to gain an understanding about your lifestyle and what you want to progress back to, the cause of your injury, and your progress since your fracture.
Objective Assessment
An assessment of your current pain levels, range of movement, walking stability (depending on your weight bearing status), scar tissue management (if you have had surgery) and foot/lower leg strength.
What would physiotherapy treatment be for a foot fracture?
At Liverpool Physio, Our physiotherapists will ensure you specialised treatment for your foot fracture. Depending on the extent of your injury and stage of healing, your treatment may involve:
- Joint mobilisations to restore pain free range of movement.
- Stretches to improve muscle length
- Balance re-training with use of wobble boards, trampets and more
- Foot/ankle sensation re-training if you suffered from any nerve damage
- Heat treatments to reduce pain and relieve stiffness.
- Light massage to reduce pain, restore muscle length and release trigger points.
- Strengthening exercises
- Advice on activity modification to prevent re-injury
- Advice on suitable footwear
Physiotherapy will enhance your recovery and ensure you continue to make significant improvement in range of movement, muscle strength and everyday function. Your physiotherapist at Liverpool Physio will also ensure that you return back to your normal activities with confidence and success.
How can I arrange a physiotherapy assessment for a foot fracture?
If you are experiencing sharp pain or swelling in your foot/ankle, and it is affecting your normal activity, you would benefit from an appointment with one of our experienced physiotherapists. If a suspected fracture is diagnosed we will refer you for an x-ray or MRI to assess the severity of the fracture.
You can contact us directly to arrange an assessment and we can advise you if further treatment is recommended, or give you details on self-management for minor cases. To arrange an appointment please email office@liverpoolphysio.co.uk or call 0151 558 0077.
Summary
Foot fractures can be extremely painful and greatly inhibit you capacity to perform everyday activities or engage in sports. With our specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists performing detailed assessments, they can deliver personalised, targeted treatments that can significantly improve your recovery.
At Liverpool Physio we want to ensure you get the best treatment for your injury and we will use pain relieving therapies, strengthening and mobility exercises, along with functional rehabilitation to get you back to the best possible condition.
For more information on how physiotherapy can help treat foot fractures, or to book yourself an assessment, please email office@liverpoolphysio.co.uk or ring us on 0151 558 0077.
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