Foot Mobilisation Therapy
The human foot has at least 33 joints (and yes, some people have a few more, or a few less!). That's a lot of bones, and with all those moving parts, things can sometimes go astray. If one or more of the joints in the foot or ankle are not functioning as it should, it will often lead to tissue stress either at that joint, or somewhere else in the foot or leg.
What is FMT (Foot Mobilisation Therapy)?
FMT is a manual therapy that uses mobilisation and manipulation techniques to restore function to joints of the foot or ankle that are not working correctly. The actual techniques are very similar to those used in the professions of Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, and Osteopathy. The unique approach in FMT is that is is used generally by Podiatrists, and it is underpinned by a specialised understanding of the motion and function of the various joints in the foot and ankle. As Podiatrists, we know feet better than anyone, and using FMT as part of a treatment protocol is a common occurrence at Pioneer Podiatry.
FMT is rarely used on its own as a solo therapy, and at Pioneer Podiatry we use it commonly in conjunction with orthotic therapy, shockwave therapy (for example in heel pain cases), and stretching and strengthening home exercises.
When can we use FMT?
FMT is useful in a lot of painful foot and leg conditions. The most common conditions we use it for are:
Neuromas (Mortons Neuroma)
Ankle pain, and after ankle sprains
What does FMT feel like? Does it hurt?
FMT is not particularly painful, however if you have some joint or soft tissue pain, it may be a bit tender initially. Occasionally symptoms can get slightly worst when we restore motion to "stuck" joints, however progress and pain relief if usually quite rapid.
Is FMT right for my foot pain condition?
If you have any of the above conditions, then you would do well to make an appointment to see one of our specially trained foot doctors to see if FMT would be right for you. If you have had pervious treatments, such as orthotics, injections, and exercises, and had some improvement but are still getting symptoms, then FMT can be very helpful in these cases.
How often do I need to come back to have FMT?
Usually, we to do weekly appointments, for 4 weeks. After that, it entirely depends on your progress, you pain levels, how long you've had your condition, and what condition we are treating.
If you would like to know if FMT is appropriate for your condition, the next step is to call our clinic to speak to our friendly Front Desk Team and book an appointment with one of our foot doctors, or you could book online immediately using our online booking portal.