The ankle/foot complex is made up of twenty six bones, and is the first structure to make contact with the ground when walking, running, or playing land-based sports. These bones are intended to take repetitive stress, but they can become fractured for various reasons.  The most common way a bone in the foot is fractured is from ‘twisting’ or rolling the ankle, which is usually an instantaneous incident.  Fractures can also occur from repetitive stress over time, or a crush injury. A fracture can be observed on a x-ray, ordered by your physician, and is usually immobilized to allow it to heal.  The time spent immobilized can cause joint stiffness, muscle atrophy (wasting) and decreased proprioception (balance). Physical therapy can help to address all of these impairments to make sure the foot is functioning optimally for return to activity.

Associated Symptoms:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motion
• Difficulty standing/walking