How to Find Relief for Foot Pain
with Physical Therapy This Spring
Get Rid of Your Foot Pain for an Active and Fun Spring!
Have you ever experienced that sharp, stabbing pain in your foot that makes every step feel like a challenge? Or perhaps a dull, persistent ache that just won’t go away? Foot pain is a common complaint that can significantly impact your quality of life by limiting your ability to work, exercise, and even enjoy simple activities like walking or standing. Physical therapy offers effective, non-invasive solutions to alleviate foot pain, improve function, and get you back on your feet this spring.
Common Causes of Foot Pain
Understanding the root cause of your foot pain is an important part of finding effective treatment. Let’s explore five of the most common foot pain conditions.
Plantar Fasciitis
This condition involves degeneration of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. It often causes heel pain, particularly in the morning or after periods of rest. Risk factors include obesity, high-arched feet, and activities that put excessive stress on the feet.
Metatarsalgia
This refers to pain in the ball of your foot, often caused by overuse, high-impact activities, or wearing ill-fitting shoes. Symptoms may include sharp or burning pain, numbness, or tingling in the toes.
Achilles Tendinitis
This condition involves inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It often causes pain and stiffness in the back of the ankle, especially during or after activity.
Foot Sprains
These injuries occur when the ligaments that support your foot joints are stretched or torn, typically due to a sudden twisting or rolling motion. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, and instability.
Arthritis
This degenerative joint disease can affect any joint in your foot, causing pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. Risk factors include age, previous injuries, and family history.
Running To Foot Pain Relief
A woman in her 40s came to our clinic complaining of persistent heel pain that had been bothering her for several months. The pain was particularly intense in the morning, making it difficult for her to even get out of bed. After a thorough evaluation, our physical therapist diagnosed her with plantar fasciitis.
Her active lifestyle and love for running had put excessive stress on her feet, leading to plantar fasciitis. The pain had significantly impacted her life, forcing her to give up running and other activities she enjoyed.
We created a treatment plan that included a combination of pain management techniques, strengthening exercises, and a gradual return to activity.
Pain Management
Initially, we focused on reducing her pain and restoring mobility in the foot and calf through manual therapy techniques, proper recovery routines, and mobility exercises.
Strengthening Exercises
As her pain subsided, we introduced exercises to strengthen the muscles in her feet and calves for proper support and to reduce stress on the plantar fascia.
Return to Activity
We gradually reintroduced her running routine, starting with shorter distances and lower intensity. We also educated her on proper footwear, warm-up and cool-down routines, and injury prevention strategies.
Over the course of several weeks, she experienced significant improvement in her pain and function. Best of all, she was able to resume her running routine and other activities she enjoyed with minimal discomfort.
Find Foot Pain Relief At Prevail Physical Therapy
If you are struggling with foot pain, don’t let it hold you back any longer. Our experienced physical therapists will conduct a thorough evaluation to identify the root cause of your pain and develop a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs and goals.
Call our clinic today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward recovery.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“I’ve gotten great care from two different physicians at Prevail as I managed pre-hab and re-hab for a surgery. Not only am I given great care during sessions, but communicating with my PT between is easy and the at-home exercises are achievable.”
– Tonia B.
Dear UHC Patients,
We are writing to inform you of an upcoming change in our insurance network. Effective April 30, 2025, Prevail Physical Therapy will no longer be in-network with health insurance plans from United Healthcare (UHC).
We understand this may impact your decision to continue care with us, and we want to assure you that we remain committed to providing excellent service and support during this transition.
You may continue your care at Prevail Physical Therapy with a different financial agreement (see below), or your treatment will need to discontinue by 4/30/25, in which case please work with your clinician on a strategy well before then to best conclude your plan of care by the termination date.
You can continue your care with us!
- Out of network coverage: your UHC plan may have “out-of-network” coverage for physical therapy. We can help check this for you, but you should check your plan details as well for specific costs and limitations.
- Time of Service Option: We offer private-pay options, including discounted packages for 5 and 10 visits. Please see our Front Desk Team or website for pricing.
- Insurance change: Depending on your plan, you may be able to switch your insurance to continue in-network coverage. We remain in-network with nearly all other plans. Inquire with your HR department or agent where you purchased your UHC plan and double check with Prevail about our network participation for plans you may change to.
Why This Change Is Happening
Our decision to terminate our contract with UHC was not made lightly and comes after a long period of analysis and thought. UHC’s reimbursement rates (what they pay to us) are among the lowest in the industry—below the cost of providing care—and their administrative requirements for us to be reimbursed for services have always been more difficult than all other private insurances. Our staff works very hard to manage these challenges on our end so that we may serve UHC patients with minimal apparent impact from them. In 2024 UHC implemented even further requirements that have been unpredictable and unmanageable, resulting in the denial of coverage and loss of revenue on hundreds of claims.
Prevail PT is one of the few private practices in the Puget Sound area that was in network with UHC, but it has become an unsustainable relationship financially and enables an insurance company to continue the unethical practice of prioritizing profits over the well-being of their customers. We believe the only way this will change is when UHC loses enough customers that it affects their profit margin more than continuing their current practice.
We’re Here to Help
If you have questions about this change or how it affects your care, please reach out to our team. We are happy to discuss your options, whether that’s transitioning to a cash-pay arrangement or exploring alternative insurance plans.
Thank you for trusting us with your health and well-being. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible.
Warm regards,
Bruk Ballenger, PT, DPT, founder of Prevail Physical Therapy
5 Benefits of Spring Cleaning
Have you been putting off spring cleaning? If so, you certainly aren’t alone. With your hectic schedule, it can be easy to overlook this essential activity.
However, there are many reasons why you should include spring cleaning into your routine. Here are 5 good reasons to make time for spring cleaning this season.
1. A clean home is better for your immune system
Mold, dust, and pet dander can accumulate in your home during the colder months when there is less opportunity for air circulation. A deep dive into spring cleaning helps to air out your home, preventing respiratory issues.
2. It’s an easy way to get active
Cleaning can be a real workout! From sweeping the floors to scrubbing tile to moving around furniture, spring cleaning can help you get active. Exercise has numerous benefits, including stress reduction and better heart health.
3. It lessens the possibility of injury
A cluttered home puts you, your children, or an elderly family member at risk of injury. Clearing out high-traffic areas and walkways can help to prevent falls, which can be especially dangerous for older individuals.
4. It improves concentration and mood
Studies show that a clean home positively affects your daily mood and ability to focus/complete tasks. Now that so many of us work from home, this has never been more important!
5. You can donate unused items to others
Part of cleaning is going through old and unused items to see what can find a new home. Not only is donating to charity emotionally rewarding, it helps free up space in your home and can encourage you to become more organized.
With so many benefits to spring cleaning, what are you waiting for? Get started today!
Spring Time Word Scramble
ruetftybl
ihnuenss
adlofdfi
ratees
oslmbos
brnwaoi
Answer Key
butterfly
sunshine
daffodil
easter
blossom
rainbow
Come Back to Physical Therapy at Prevail!
Feeling pain or slowed down? Come back to Prevail Physical Therapy for a personalized plan to get you strong, pain-free, and moving again!
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Quick & Easy Healthy Recipe
Spring Vegetable Tart
Ingredients:
- 2 sheets puff pastry
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 5 oz vegetable dip
- 6 baby zucchini, halved lengthwise
- 3-4 yellow squash, thinly sliced with a mandoline
- 1 bunch asparagus, thinly sliced lengthwise with a mandoline
- 1 1/2 c goat cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar glaze
- Mixed herbs, to serve
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. To make tart case, place pastry sheets side by side on the lined tray. Brush egg wash along the long edge of one sheet, then overlap with the other by 1″ to create a large single sheet. Fold and pinch all four sides to make a 1″ border, pushing down to seal. Brush border with egg wash. Using a fork, prick the base of the tart all over. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes, until golden. Remove from oven and spread base of pastry with dip. Meanwhile, place vegetables in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over vegetables, steep for 1 min to blanch, then drain and pat dry with paper towel. Scatter vegetables over tart and crumble goat cheese on top. Drizzle with oil and vinegar glaze. Sprinkle with mixed herbs.
Thank You for Subscribing to Prevail Physical Therapy
Refer a Friend
Our purpose at Prevail Physical Therapy is to leave a greater impact on the community around us. In order to achieve our goal we want to change as many lives as possible as we become a beacon of positivity in our community.
Meet Our Team
Bruk Ballenger
PT, DPT
Sam Kidder
PT, DPT
Rachel Krieder
PT, DPT
Keagan Tice
PT, DPT
Adam Waggoner
PT, DPT
Stephanie Dunagan
Office Manager
Vanessa N.
Client Services Coordinator
