An ankle injury may seem minor: a slip on black ice or a rolled foot on uneven ground. But once the pain fades, that injury might create ripple effects.

For many patients, those effects can show up weeks or months later in an entirely different part of the body. A “healed” ankle sprain might now show up as hip pain, recurring back tightness or stiffness with walking.

This pain can be the result of compensation patterns that developed—protective changes the  brain makes to movement to keep the body safe. Limping, bracing or favoring one side in moving are instinctive, short-term. keep-safe measures, but when these patterns remain after the initial injury heals, they can often create problems in other areas.

This is where physical therapy can play a crucial role. At Restore Physical Therapy, in Cranston, a one-on-one, whole-body approach begins with a comprehensive 75-minute evaluation. One of the most important parts of this assessment is gait analysis: an in-depth look at how the body moves when walking.

Though walking may seem too simple, it’s actually a highly coordinated, full-body task. It requires balance, shock absorption and propulsion, involving real-time coordination between the foot, ankle, knee, hip, spine and core.  Each step includes two phases: the stance (when the foot is in contact with the ground), and the swing (when the foot lifts and moves forward). During a gait assessment, therapists observe how the body moves through these phases, including how the foot and ankle absorb impact, how the trunk and legs respond, and how efficiently weight transfers from one side to the other.

Even small movement quirks can offer insight. A joint may be restricted. A muscle may be overactive or underperforming. Timing, balance or coordination may be just slightly off and enough to contribute to persistent pain or dysfunction.

To identify the root cause of compensation patterns, the team at Restore looks at how three key areas work together: joints, muscles and the nervous system.

Joints are designed to transfer force through the body. Muscles provide power, stability and shock absorption. The nervous system ties it all together, collecting information from the body and adjusting it in real time to keep movement safe and efficient. 

When one area isn’t functioning properly, another often compensates, increasing the risk for strain, pain, or injury. But thanks to the brain’s natural adaptability—known as neuroplasticity—these patterns can be retrained.

With targeted exercises and consistent practice, the body can relearn how to move with strength, stability and ease.

At Restore Physical Therapy, individualized treatment plans are designed to support that process: helping patients address the underlying cause of their pain, improve function and build resilience for the long-term.

Rather than simply managing symptoms, this approach focuses on restoring efficient, confident movement so patients can return to the activities they enjoy most.

Dr. Amanda Zarriello, DPT, is the owner of Restore Physical Therapy, located at 10 Worthington Rd., Ste. J, Cranston, RI. For more information or to arrange for a discovery session, call 401-250-3060 or visit www.RestorePTRI.com.