If any amount of walking results in pain or instability in your feet or ankles, you can find help at Gateway Foot and Ankle Center. The experienced podiatry team offers diagnostic testing services in-office to determine what’s causing walking problems. They can customize a treatment plan to address arthritis, tendinitis, fractures, and other issues that affect your mobility. The team offers nonsurgical and surgical treatments to provide long-lasting relief of pain and other symptoms. Call the office in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, or in Clarksville, Erin, or Nashville, Tennessee, or book an appointment online today.
Walking problems, also known as an abnormal gait, describes issues that affect your ability to walk correctly and without pain.
Common causes of walking problems that concern the feet and ankles include:
You might also develop walking problems because of corns, calluses, or open sores that develop on the sides or the soles of your feet.
You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Gateway Foot and Ankle Center if you have chronic foot or ankle pain that interferes with your walking ability.
You may also need an evaluation for walking problems if you:
The team offers advanced diagnostic technologies on-site to identify what’s causing your walking problems. They also perform a comprehensive physical exam to assess the shape of your feet and check for inflammation, sores, and other issues that affect your mobility.
Based on the results of your evaluation, the team customizes a care plan to relieve your symptoms and improve your gait.
Your treatment for walking problems depends on the underlying cause of your issues. The Gateway Foot and Ankle Center team may recommend one or more treatments to improve your mobility, such as:
Over-the-counter or prescription medications can relieve pain and reduce inflammation to make walking easier.
Physical therapy helps stretch soft tissues in your feet and ankles to relieve pain and strengthen muscles that support the joints.
Custom orthotics mold to your foot or ankle to provide extra support and stability. Shoe inserts, braces, and other orthotics can improve your gait and relieve pressure on your joints that cause pain.
If nonsurgical therapies aren’t working well or if you have a fracture or serious tissue tear, you may be a candidate for surgery.
If you’re limited by pain or if your walking problems are worsening, schedule a consultation online or call the Gateway Foot and Ankle Center office nearest you today.