Foot Pain and Ankle Pain refer to pain felt below the middle of the calf, and which may involve structures in the foot like the heel, the sole of the foot, and the toes. Foot and Ankle Pain can be caused to muscular, bony, ligamentous or nervous factors. Foot pain affects approximately 24% of adults worldwide (Gates et al., 2019), contributing to mobility limitations across the lifespan.
Common bony problems in the foot include arthritis of the ankle, bones in the foot, and the toes. The human foot is composed of more than twenty bones, held together by a complex scaffold of ligaments, connective tissue, and layers of muscle all of which must coordinate precisely to support body weight and enable movement (Gates et al., 2019). Degenerative changes become increasingly common with age, where 42% of older adults report foot pain (Gates et al., 2019).
Patients with Diabetes commonly experience Diabetic Neuropathy, a condition in which the high blood sugar can damage nerves throughout the body. Most commonly, this occurs in the legs and feet, which can cause Nervous Foot Pain. Diabetic neuropathy affects up to 50% of individuals with diabetes (Pop-Busui et. al., 2022). When nerves are damaged, people may experience burning, numbness, weakness, or altered sensation. In severe cases, neuropathy can weaken the muscles that stabilise the foot and ankle, increasing the risk of falls and injury.
Mechanical and physical factors remain the most frequent causes of foot and ankle pain. Everyday events—stepping on uneven ground, slipping on a wet surface, or simply walking for long periods—can strain the tissues of the foot. Among active individuals, ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in sport, and lifetime prevalence estimates exceed 13–36% (Canca‑Sanchez et al., 2024). Mechanical overload is the most common driver of foot pain, and understanding load patterns is the key to preventing recurrence. Even small changes in footwear, training volume, or walking surfaces can influence how the foot responds to stress.
Management of Foot and Ankle Pain depends on the cause of the pain, how it feels and changes over the day, what makes it better or worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing the pain. These details are explored during your first assessment, which lays the groundwork for reducing pain and improving comfort. From there, your treatment plan is tailored to the specific cause, with a focus on relieving pain, restoring pain-free movement, and building strategies to lower the chance of future flare-ups.
At Atlas Physio, we guide you with clear education, structured management, and ongoing support both in the clinic and at home. We make care easy to access by opening seven days a week, offering evening appointments, providing bulk billing for eligible clients, and ensuring no gap fees for WorkCover or TAC clients. Get in touch today to take the first step toward feeling more comfortable, moving with confidence, and enjoying care that is practical, dependable, and designed to deliver lasting results.
REFERENCES
Canca‑Sanchez, F. J., Morales‑Asencio, J. M., Ortega‑Avila, A. B., Gijon‑Nogueron, G., Cervera‑Garvi, P., Marchena‑Rodriguez, A., & Canca‑Sanchez, J. C. (2024). Predictive factors for foot pain in the adult population. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25, 552.
Gates, L. S., Arden, N. K., Hannan, M. T., Roddy, E., Gill, T. K., Hill, C. L., Dufour, A. B., Rathod‑Mistry, T., Thomas, M. J., Menz, H. B., Bowen, C. J., & Golightly, Y. M. (2019). Prevalence of foot pain across an international consortium of population‑based cohorts. Arthritis Care & Research, 71(5), 661–670.
Pop-Busui, R., Ang, L., Boulton, A. J., Feldman, E. L., Marcus, R. L., Mizokami-Stout, K., Singleton, J. R. & Ziegler, D. (2022). Diagnosis and treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. ADA Clinical Compendia 2022;2022(1):1–32