How Bounceback Physical Therapy in Chattanooga Can Help Fix Foot Pain – For Good

At Bounceback Physical Therapy in Chattanooga, I recently had a patient who initially came in for neck and upper back tightness. But during one of our sessions, she casually mentioned that she had been seeing a podiatrist for foot pain—something she hadn’t brought up until then.

She had been diagnosed with Morton’s neuroma, a condition where a nerve between the toes (typically between the 3rd and 4th) becomes irritated and painful. She told me she had gotten an injection, which helped tremendously—at least for a while.

“What happens when the injection wears off?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she replied.

“Well, I’d rather help fix the root of the problem than wait for it to flare up again,” I said with a smile.

She paused. “Can physical therapy actually help with foot pain like this?”

That’s when it hit me: What’s obvious to me as a physical therapist often isn’t obvious to the people I work with. Yes—physical therapy can absolutely help relieve foot pain, including conditions like Morton’s neuroma.

What Is Morton’s Neuroma?

Morton’s neuroma is irritation of a nerve bundle located near the toes—typically between the third and fourth toes. When too much pressure is placed on that area, it can cause sharp, burning, or tingling pain.

The root cause? It’s often due to abnormal mechanics in the foot and ankle.

Why Foot Pain Happens (And Why Injections Alone Don’t Fix It)

During normal walking, pressure starts on the outside of your heel and shifts across the foot, ending with a push-off from the big toe. But when this movement is altered—due to things like tight calves, limited ankle motion, or poor toe mobility—it can overload the wrong structures, like the nerves near the toes.

In this patient’s case, we found:

• Tight calf muscles in both legs
• Limited mobility in the right ankle joint
• Poor extension mobility in the big toe
  
  

All of these contributed to faulty walking mechanics—and ultimately, foot pain.

How We Treated It at Bounceback PT

Instead of just masking her symptoms with another injection, we worked on restoring her mobility and mechanics. After just one session, she left feeling relieved—not only physically, but mentally—because she now had a clear plan to actually fix her foot pain.
By doing just a few daily mobility and strengthening exercises, she’s now on track to avoid further irritation, stay active, and eliminate the need for repeat injections.

Chattanooga Foot Pain Relief Starts With the Right Diagnosis

If you're dealing with foot pain in Chattanooga or the Hixson area and haven't found lasting relief, it's worth looking beyond temporary fixes. At Bounceback Physical Therapy in Hixson, I take a full-body approach to movement and pain—so even if your issue seems small or unrelated, there might be a bigger picture we can help with.
Whether it's Morton’s neuroma, plantar fasciitis, ankle stiffness, or something else, you don’t have to settle for temporary solutions.

Ready to Fix the Root Cause of Your Foot Pain?

If you're tired of just putting a band-aid on your foot pain and want long-term results, let's talk. Schedule a free discovery call today so I can hear your story and help determine if we're a good fit.
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