The circus is in town! Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey is in Houston July 10 – 27 at Reliant Stadium. This is an event not to be missed, but foot and ankle pain can leave you miserable at home while the rest of the family enjoys the greatest show on earth. If you have ankle pain you might want to consider doing some of these stretches for tarsal tunnel syndrome.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the posterior tibial nerve in the foot becomes compressed too tightly. This results in pain, numbness, burning, and tingling. Risk factors that increase your likelihood of developing this condition may include having flat feet, an obstruction pressing on the nerve (such as a cyst or a tumor), injury to the foot or ankle, and having a disease that contributes to swelling, like diabetes orarthritis. If you notice any symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome you should get it looked at right away. The sooner you seek treatment the quicker your healing process will be.

Doctors like to treat this type of pain as conservatively as possible. One of the best ways to treat the discomfort caused by tarsal tunnel is with stretching. A good stretch to work your toe muscles is to use your toes to pick up objects (such as pencils or marbles). This can prevent a repeat of tarsal tunnel. You could also try toe-walking or stretching your calves and heels (in a seated or standing position). Another good stretch is rolling a ball along your arches. These stretches will help with existing pain, but even more importantly they are preventative.

If you have tarsal tunnel syndrome and would like more information call Dr. Robert Parker at (281) 497-2850. Parker Foot and Ankle in Houston can help diagnose and treat your tarsal tunnel syndrome so you won’t suffer ankle pain while enjoying a performance that is “built to amaze!”