Foot & Ankle Pain

The ankle you rolled in 2019 still doesn't trust downhill trails. The arch aches by afternoon. Feet carry every mile you've ever walked, and they're wonderfully honest about what's wrong — 26 bones and 33 joints leave clear fingerprints on examination.

What’s actually going on

Beyond plantar fasciitis (which has its own page), common patterns include post-sprain ankles that healed loose or stiff, midfoot joint restrictions, tendon irritations (posterior tibial, peroneal, Achilles), and big-toe joint problems that quietly rearrange your gait. Chiropractic extremity care — part of this practice since 1993 — treats these joints directly.

Common causes we see

• Ankle sprains that were rested but never rehabilitated
• Stiff ankle mechanics after immobilization or injury
• Overuse tendon patterns from Reno's trails and pavement
• Big-toe joint restriction or arthritis (hallux limitus) rewriting gait
• Footwear mismatched to feet or activity

How we evaluate it

Joint-by-joint mobility testing (the ankle's rear, mid and forefoot each tell their part), ligament stability testing for the old sprains, tendon loading tests, gait analysis, and balance testing — post-sprain proprioception loss is the great re-sprain generator.

How chiropractic care may help

Adjustment and mobilization of restricted foot and ankle joints, soft-tissue care for guarded tendons and calves, stability and balance retraining (the piece most sprains never got), progressive loading for the tendons, and footwear guidance. Old stiff ankles often improve satisfyingly once someone finally moves the joints; loose ones need the strength-and-balance route — the exam tells us which you own.

What to expect

Expect a balance test you'll want to practice, and expect us to watch you walk — feet confess under gait.

Assessment reference: Ottawa ankle rules for post-injury imaging decisions.