Pain in the ankle joint is quite common especially in runners. There are many causes of ankle pain some common with easy fixes, whilst others may be from a related underlying issue. For persistent pain and inflammation, seeing a podiatrist would be your best way to receive not only relief from your pain but also to help stop it from reoccurring.
What causes ankle pain?
One of the most common causes of pain in and around the ankle joint are sprains and injuries caused from exercise. Arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, and achilles tendonitis can also be the cause of your pain.
Anther reason your ankle may be causing you pain is not from injury but from stress on the joint. This can be caused soft-tissue damage and degeneration, bony misalignment or systemic conditions. Overuse and poor fitting shoes can also cause your ankle to become inflamed and very sore.
Why see a podiatrist?
Your podiatrist can assess and determine the cause of ankle pain, and implement a treatment plan to relieve it. They will also assess and recommend the best shoe for your foot and lifestyle. It may be that your ankle needs to be strapped to help reduce inflammation at the joint, your podiatrist will be able to do this for you and also teach you how to best strap your own ankle in future.
One of the most common ‘fixes’ for ankle pain is orthotics or insoles for your shoes. Our podiatrists are trained in designing and making custom orthotics tailored to you. For more information about orthotics and how they can help you click here.
Another option for treating ankle pain is shockwave therapy. Shockwave therapy is a quick and efficient treatment plan that is suitable even for the most sensitive and painful areas. For more information click here.
How do I stop my ankles from hurting?
For persistent or reoccurring pain it is best you get your ankle seen to by a podiatrist as it may be an underlying issue that needs to be diagnosed and treated. For fast pain relief, follow the below steps:
- Rest and elevate your ankle, try to keep your weight off the joint.
- Apply a ice pack to the site of pain for up to 20 minutes three times a day
- To reduce swelling, apply a compression bandage to your ankle. If you need help bandaging, book an appointment with your podiatrist.
How to prevent ankle pain?
- Prior to any exercise or sporting activity, warm up for at least 30 minutes focusing on the joints you will be using the most i.e. the ankle.
- Choose shoes specifically for your foot type and activity of choice. Your podiatrist will help by suggesting which shoes are best for you.
- Replace any shoes with the tread and/or heels worn down.
- Try to avoid walking or running on uneven surfaces.
If you have any questions about ankle pain,
go to our Contact Us page, or call us on 5441 4822
