Soft tissue treatment

Soft tissue treatment/therapy is the assessment and subsequent management of damage to the soft tissues of the body and the symptoms associated with this damage.

What is soft tissue treatment?

Soft tissue treatment in podiatry is a method of treatment designed for injuries which occur at the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the foot and lower limb. Therapy involves manipulation of damaged soft tissues in order to relieve the pain caused by excessive stress, overuse and disorder.

Soft tissue programmes are specific to the individual patient and their presenting complaint. Treatment may include stretching, exercises and deep massage techniques which in aim of increasing range of movement, reducing pain and enhancing muscle activity.

What podiatry-related conditions can soft tissue treatment help with?

Soft tissue injuries can occur in any part of the body. There following are common soft tissue injures related to podiatry which occur at the foot and ankle, they are;

Tendinopathy - e.g. Achilles tendinopathy, usually caused by overuse this is damage to the tendon itself and the surrounding protective sheath

Sprain or strain - these commonly occur at the ankle. A sprain is injury to a ligament whereas a strain is damage to a muscle or tendon

Bursitis - this is inflammation of the fluid filled sack found between a bone and the soft tissues. Bursitis commonly develops around the heel of the foot

Plantar fasciitis - inflammation of the soft tissue that supports the arch of the foot

How does soft tissue treatment work?

Soft tissue treatment works by breaking down areas of fibrotic tissue known as scar tissue, which develop in the muscle when it is damaged. These adhesions can have undesirable effects from minor discomfort to severe pain. Soft tissue therapy reduces the stiffness and pain caused by these adhesions, increasing circulation to the area and aiding in the removal of toxins and waste products.