Your legs and feet carry you around every day. And if something is wrong, experienced and highly trained physical therapists at John Hopkins can help you get back on your feet after a surgery, injury, or other painful or disabling foot or ankle condition.

Foot and Ankle Physical Therapy: Why Choose Johns Hopkins

• We can help you address a wide range of foot and ankle symptoms, including pain, joint instability and loss of motion.
• Our goal is to help you return to the activities you enjoy — recreational running, professional sports, or just being able to walk or stand without pain.
• Physical therapy is usually the first treatment for many foot and ankle problems, but we also work closely with orthopaedic surgeons in cases when surgery may be a better option.
• Our treatment approach combines modern technology, tried and true physical therapy techniques and the unique expertise of our therapists to deliver well-rounded care.

We Provide Treatments for and Recovery After:

• Foot and ankle sprains, strains and fractures
• Tendinopathy (tendon problems), including Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis
• Ankle osteoarthritis
• Shin splints
• Heel pain and heel spurs
• Sports injuries (we have a special rehabilitation program for runners)
• Chronic ankle instability
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome (compressed nerve)
• Bunions
• Neuropathic (diabetic) foot
• Total ankle replacement, and other foot and ankle surgery

Foot and Ankle Therapeutic Technology

Our treatments focus on pain relief, restoring function, and a smooth return to activity. Besides stretching and strengthening exercises, we use specialized techniques and equipment, such as:

• Manual therapy and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM): the application of pressure to certain muscles or tendons by hand or with special instruments
• Kinesiology tape: strategically applied adhesive, wearable tape
• Orthotics: arch support
• Laser therapy: exposure to specific light waves
• Dry needling: insertion of fine needles deep into a muscle or trigger point
• Instrumented gait analysis: measurement and analysis of gait, pressure points, balance and other factors using an instrumented treadmill with a large sensor as a surface
• Myofascial acoustic compression (shock wave) therapy: treatment with focused pressure waves
• Anti-gravity treadmill: a treadmill that can reduce the gravitational force on your body

Your therapist will work with you to choose the right combination of treatments.