Ankle Pain
A Practical Approach to Eliminating Chronic Ankle Pain
Your ankles are complex structures made up of bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons. Your ankles bear your entire bodyweight and are essential for standing, walking, and running. While strong enough to support your bodyweight, your ankles may be susceptible to injury and pain. Pain and other problems in this part of your body can have serious consequences on your ability to perform your daily activities. This page discusses ankle pain in greater detail and offers helpful advice about how to prevent or eliminate ankle pain for good.
Condition Information
Ankle sprains—caused by a fall, unexpected twist, or a blow to your ankle joint—are one of the leading causes of ankle pain. According to some statistics, about 40 percent of people who suffer an ankle sprain will develop chronic, or long-term, ankle pain. Chronic, unresolved ankle pain can manifest for several reasons, including:
- Lack of immobilization immediately after an ankle injury
- Insufficient mobility and strengthening exercises during recovery
- Development of scar tissue around your injury site
- Continued aggravation caused by excessive ankle pronation
- Prolonged periods of immobilization after the acute phase of your injury
Ankle sprains are not the only cause of chronic ankle pain, however. Injury to any of the bones, ligaments, and tendons that compose your ankle joint can cause this health problem, too.
Causes & Symptoms
Possible causes of ankle pain (besides ankle sprains) include:
- Gout
- Bursitis
- Ankle instability
- Achilles tendonitis
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Stress fractures or other ankle fractures
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome (nerve compression)
Damage or swelling of ankle tendons, ankle joint infection, and a blockage of leg blood vessels may also cause ankle pain.
Ankle pain may be accompanied by several distinct signs or symptoms in your affected area, including:
- Difficulty walking on uneven ground
- A feeling of ankle instability
- A clicking or locking of your ankle joint
- Swelling around your ankle joint
- Reduced ankle joint range of motion
Ankle Pain Treatment
Acute and chronic ankle pain are treated differently. Acute ankle pain usually responds best to RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), among other therapies. Chronic ankle pain may be helped with exercises that strengthen your ankle and improve your ankle joint range of motion.
Next Steps
Book your free consultation with a chiropractor at Total Vitality Medical Group and learn more about this noninvasive approach to ankle pain. We will assess your problem and counsel you on how we can help resolve your chronic ankle pain.
