Some of the most common foot and ankle problems we see include plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, ankle sprains, bunions and flat feet.

If you're experiencing persistent foot or ankle pain, instability, sports injuries, arthritic conditions, deformities or limited mobility that impacts your daily activities, it's advisable to consult with our podiatrists. Through a thorough evaluation and diagnostic tests, our specialists can determine whether foot or ankle reconstruction or surgical intervention is necessary to address your condition effectively and improve foot function.

Determining the difference between a fracture versus a break in your ankle is quite simple: there isn’t one. “Fracture” is the medical term that describes a bone that is no longer intact—some part of it is broken. The break may cut all the way through the bone, or it may be more like a crack in the tissue. It may be displaced, meaning the ends of the bone have been moved out of position, or non-displaced, in which they remain aligned. A non-displaced fracture is easy to treat. The ankle needs to be immobilized and rested for several weeks. A displaced broken ankle, however, will have to be re-aligned to heal correctly. Severe fractures may require surgery.

If you’re concerned about an ankle injury, whether you call the problem a “break” or a “fracture,” you need to take care of the damage promptly to heal well. Let our team at WellSpan Martin Foot and Ankle know about it and see how we can help.

Ankle surgery is recommended for serious injuries or chronic conditions that don’t respond to conservative, noninvasive treatment methods. For most conditions, this means all other remedies have been tried but have not been successful enough to eliminate your pain or restore your joint to full strength. This is often the case with chronic ankle arthritis or instability. On the other hand, some serious injuries need prompt surgical intervention because the tissues won’t heal otherwise. Dislocated fractures and ruptured ligaments are a couple of these. These separated tissues often end up being pinned or screwed in place so they will heal correctly.

Our team at WellSpan Martin Foot and Ankle can help you decide if surgery will benefit your ankles or not. Often the type of surgery matters, too, so we’ll determine what procedure would help your joints the most.

Trust us: you don’t want to skip your yearly diabetic foot exam! Neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are tricky for a couple of reasons. First, they develop and progress slowly over time, and second, they are very difficult (if not impossible) to reverse. Treatment is focused mostly on managing symptoms and keeping them from getting worse. By the time you notice them, you can stop the ship, but it may be too late to fully change course.

Yearly diabetic exams allow us to test for neuropathy and circulatory problems to stop them in their tracks as early as possible, before they have a chance to severely impact your life. We can also help you correct contributing foot problems and manage risks by helping you with shoes, corns, calluses, foot pain and other issues.

Physical therapy can be a huge benefit for people struggling with arthritis pain. Arthritis makes moving and using your joints painful and difficult, which can limit your mobility and stiffen your limbs. Physical therapy can help you regain some flexibility and range of motion, as well as preserve your strength so your joints last longer. All of this can help alleviate and slow arthritis pain. In the long run, this can prevent deformities and permanent loss of motion in your joints.

The sooner you start physical therapy, the more likely it will benefit you. Early on it can be helpful for reducing inflammation symptoms and swelling. Don’t wait until the pain is already a serious problem to seek help. The WellSpan Martin Foot and Ankle team is here to help you get the right therapy for your unique discomfort.

Physical therapy is a type of rehabilitative medicine. It aims to restore your physical structures to their full strength and range of motion by stretching and exercising the different soft tissues. It uses in-depth knowledge of the human body and how your muscle groups and joints interact with each other to treat your pain. It can help prevent future problems as well; if your body is working correctly and all your structures maintain proper alignment, you’re less likely to develop a condition.

Physical therapy can be very beneficial for your feet and ankles. Since your lower limbs carry so much weight, they are prone to overuse problems and painful biomechanical issues. Exercises can boost your stability and both relieve pain and prevent it from recurring.

Yes, we offer personalized pediatric foot care services. Our experienced podiatrists understand the unique foot health needs of children and provide gentle and effective treatments for conditions such as clubfoot, flat feet, gait abnormalities and congenital deformities. We prioritize early intervention and tailored care to ensure healthy foot development and function in pediatric patients.

How soon you should see a doctor depends on your ankle sprain symptoms. If you hear a popping sound at the time of the injury, notice severe swelling or bruising or find you can’t put weight on your affected foot, you should seek treatment right away. You may have severe sprain. Assessing the damage and promptly managing the condition are necessary for a complete recovery.

If your injury is less severe but continues to be painful, bruised and swollen after one to two weeks of home remedies, you should have your joint examined. The sooner you see a professional, the quicker you’ll receive the targeted treatment you need. This can help you avoid long-term complications that weaken your whole joint, too. All ankle sprains need proper first aid.