- Home
- /
- Conditions
- /
- Ankle
- /
- When is PT not appropriate for ankle pain?
Achilles Pain
In some cases, patients presenting this is rare, we want to be certain we, as physical therapists, are able to help.
Some of the symptoms we look for include:
- Fever, chills, night sweats (increased risk of infection or cancer)
- Weight loss (concern of cancer or infection)
- Recent infection (increased risk of infection)
Medication-specific concerns include:
- Steroids (risk of osteoporosis)
- Anti-coagulants (risk of bleeding)
- Immunosuppressants (risk of infections)
The Ottawa Ankle Rules were created to determine if a patient needs X-rays following an acute ankle injury. A patient needs X-rays if there is:
- Pain in the malleolar zone (see image below)
- Any of the following:
- Bone tenderness along the distal 6 cm of the back edge of the tibia or tip of the medial malleolus
- The inability to bear weight both immediately and in the emergency department for four steps
Image credit http://www.ohri.ca/emerg/cdr/docs/cdr_ankle_poster.pdf
References:
- Martin, Robroy L. et al. “Achilles Pain, Stiffness, And Muscle Power Deficits: Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy Revision 2018.” Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, Vol. 48, No. 5, 2018, pp. A1-A38. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT), https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2018.0302.
Related Articles
How do we track your progress?
We define patient-centered goals as what you hope to accomplish from physical therapy. While these are typically activity-specific goals, often patients report they just wish to experience less pain.
Sprained Ankle
Sprained Ankle Ankle sprains are common and most effect the lateral (the...
Achilles Pain
Achilles Pain Pain in the Achilles tendon can occur from a complete or partial...