Foot & Ankle

From rolled ankles to stubborn foot pain—let’s get you steady again.

One misstep off a curb, an awkward landing in a game, or weeks of being on your feet… and suddenly your ankle or foot is running the show. Maybe you keep spraining the same ankle, your Achilles lights up every time you try to be active, or your heel and arch are screaming at you first thing in the morning.

At Timpanogos Physical Therapy, we see many ankle sprains, chronic ankle instability, Achilles tendon problems, plantar fasciitis, and general foot pain. The encouraging part: these issues often respond exceptionally well when we blend shockwave therapy, electromagnetic therapy (EMTT), hands-on care, and smart strengthening and stability work.

Ankle & foot issues we see all the time

Fresh ankle sprains with swelling, soreness, and stiffness
A “bad ankle” that keeps rolling on uneven ground or during sports
Lingering pain on the outside of the ankle long after a sprain
Achilles tendon pain with running, jumping, or those first few morning steps
Tight, aching calf and Achilles after walks, hikes, or workouts
Plantar fasciitis/heel pain that makes getting out of bed or off the couch a chore
Achy arches or forefoot after long days on your feet or in specific shoes
Feeling like you can’t trust your ankle or foot when you cut, pivot, or land

If you’re constantly guarding one leg or planning your day around how your ankle or foot feels, your body is telling you it needs more than rest, ice, and a brace.

Why ankle & foot problems tend to linger

A lot of people are told, “It’s just a sprain,” or “It’s just plantar fasciitis—it’ll calm down.” Sometimes it does… but often it leaves behind:

Ligaments that healed but never regained full strength
Muscles and tendons are doing extra work to protect a wobbly joint
Balance and reflexes that were never fully retrained
A brain that quietly thinks, “This side isn’t safe,” and changes the way you move
In the foot, overloaded fascia and small stabilizers that never got the right kind of strengthening

Our job is to help tissues feel better and move better, then rebuild the strength and dynamic stability that make your ankle and foot feel dependable again.

Ankle sprains: where shockwave really shines

Whether your sprain is fresh or months/years old, we’ve found that many ankle sprains respond exceptionally well to shockwave therapy when it’s used correctly.

For sprained and unstable ankles, shockwave therapy can:

Target tender, stubborn areas around the ligaments
Address chronic soreness and thicker, irritated tissue from old sprains
Support the body’s natural repair process when things feel “stuck”

But we don’t stop at symptom relief. Once pain and irritation start to settle, we focus heavily on:

Strengthening the muscles that support the ankle (calf, peroneals, deep stabilizers)
Dynamic balance and stability drills so your ankle can react quickly and automatically
Sport- or activity-specific progressions so you’re ready for the way you move, not just a basic walk test

Shockwave therapy helps clear the roadblocks; strength and dynamic stability keep the problem from coming right back.

Shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is one of the conditions where shockwave therapy really earns its reputation.

We use shockwave to:

Focus directly on the irritated plantar fascia at the heel and arch
Calm that sharp, stabbing pain with the first steps or after sitting
Support the tissue as it remodels and becomes more tolerant to load again

In over 7 years of using shockwave therapy at Timpanogos PT, we’ve seen plantar fasciitis respond extremely well—to the point that nearly every plantar fasciitis patient we’ve treated has had meaningful improvement when we complete a full plan that combines shockwave with the proper stretching, strengthening, and shoe/activity changes.

No treatment can guarantee a result for every single person, but our clinical track record with plantar fasciitis and shockwave is about as close as it gets.

How do we help your ankle and foot

Shockwave Therapy

We frequently use shockwave therapy for:

Painful ankle ligaments after sprains (recent or chronic)
Irritated Achilles tendons that keep flaring with activity
Plantar fasciitis/heel pain, especially when it’s been there for months
Deep, nagging muscle and tendon hot spots in the calf and foot

Those focused pulses act like a wake-up call for irritated tissue—reducing pain, encouraging remodeling, and making it easier to tolerate the strengthening work that comes next.

Electromagnetic Therapy (EMTT)

EMTT uses pulsed electromagnetic fields around the ankle, calf, and foot to:

Ease guarding in overworked muscles
Support local circulation in sore, irritated areas
Make movement and loading feel more comfortable

It’s a great complement to shockwave therapy when the whole region feels “revved up.”

Manual Therapy

Hands-on care may include:

Joint mobilization for the ankle, subtalar joint, and midfoot to restore motion
Soft-tissue treatment for the calf, Achilles, plantar fascia, and peroneals
Work higher up the chain (knee, hip) if stiffness is there, forcing the ankle and foot to overwork

This helps the foot and ankle move more freely and share the load the way they were designed to.

Strength, balance & dynamic stability

This is the non-negotiable part if you want lasting change.

We’ll build a progressive plan that might include:

Gentle activation and range of motion early on
Calf and Achilles strengthening, building up to heavier, slower resistance for tendon health
Foot intrinsic work (small stabilizing muscles) so your arch actually contributes
Single-leg balance, quick reactions, and change-of-direction drills so your ankle learns to respond without you overthinking it
Return-to-walk, return-to-run, or return-to-sport progressions tailored to your life

The end goal: an ankle and foot that feel strong, responsive, and trustworthy—not fragile.

Red & Near-Infrared Light Therapy

We often add red light therapy or near-infrared light over the ankle and foot to support:

Recovery after heavier training or longer days on your feet
Irritated plantar fascia, Achilles, or post-sprain tissues
General tissue health without adding more mechanical stress

It’s a comfortable, non-invasive way to round out your session.

What progress can look like

Walking on uneven ground without worrying about rolling your ankle
First steps in the morning that don’t feel like you’re stepping on glass
Being able to jog, jump, cut, or change direction with more confidence
Less ache at the end of the day—even if you’ve been on your feet a lot
Feeling like your ankle and foot are part of a strong, coordinated system again

FAQs

Do I need an X-ray or an MRI first?
Not always. If we see signs of a fracture, a major tendon rupture, or anything that would clearly change the plan, we’ll discuss imaging and help coordinate. Many ankle sprains, Achilles tendon issues, and plantar fascia problems can be evaluated thoroughly at our physical therapy clinic.

Is shockwave therapy safe for recent injuries?
When properly screened and appropriately dosed, shockwave therapy can be beneficial for both acute and chronic ankle and foot problems. We’ll decide on timing and intensity based on your exam and how irritable things are.

Will I have to stop all activity?
Usually not. We’ll guide what you do and how much, so you keep moving while your tissues heal and get stronger.

What if this has been going on for years?
Chronic ankle and foot issues often improve once we combine the right tools—shockwave therapy, EMTT, red light therapy, and focused strengthening—with a clear plan for strength and dynamic stability. Even if you’ve tried PT or rest before, a more complete approach can still move the needle.

Ready to trust your ankle and foot again?

If your ankle or foot has been limiting what you do—or making you think twice about every step—you don’t have to just live with it.
Schedule an evaluation with Timpanogos Physical Therapy, and we’ll put together a clear, practical plan that uses modern tools and innovative training to get your ankle and foot back to doing what they’re meant to do. So you can get back to doing yours.