The ankle can often be overlooked in regards to its importance and functions, until there’s a problem. If you haven’t realized it yet, our ankles are responsible for bearing a very heavy load — more than any other joint.
When things are fine with your ankles, physical activity is often no problem at all. However, if something goes wrong with either of your ankles, simple movements like walking can feel almost impossible.
Are you experiencing ankle pain? Below you’ll find some insight on what to do next.
Causes of Ankle Pain
Ankle pain usually comes from a sprain, overuse without adequate rest, or a medical conditions such as arthritis and tendonitis. In fact, ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries people suffer from.
When left untreated, strains, torn ligaments, and damaged bones can cause a myriad of problems within the ankle, which are further impacted by the heavy burden being carried.
Types of Ankle Pain
Pains in the ankle can be manifest in several different ways, and with a number of different causes.
Ankle Sprain
An ankle sprain is when you twist your ankle to an unnatural position, damaging your ligaments. Minor ankle sprains can cause a small amount of stretching in the ligaments, with more severe sprains causing tears. Symptoms can include swelling and bruising around the ankle and heel.
Instability
Chronic ankle instability often comes as the result of repeated ankle sprains, making the ligaments within the ankle very lax, which makes the ankle constantly feel as if it’s about to give way — especially during physical activity.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis can affect many joints and ligaments, ankles included. With ankle tendonitis, the most common symptom is pain on the back of the heel and ankle, which flares up when walking. Ongoing inflammation can dramatically increase the chances of a tear in the ankle ligaments.
Impingement Syndrome
Highly common with runners and dancers, posterior impingement syndrome occurs when soft tissue compresseses on the back of your ankle between your heel bone and tibia, or shin bone.
Impingement syndrome in the ankle can create swelling, numbness, or tingling that’s aggravated by walking.
Osteoarthritis
The gradual wearing away or deterioration of ankle cartilage is known as osteoarthritis. Those who participate in high-impact activities or have a previous severe ankle injury have a high risk of developing osteoarthritis. Symptoms can include a grinding feeling, swelling, stiffness, joint instability and widespread pain in the ankle and heel.
What You Can Do About Ankle Pain
If your ankle pain is sudden, sometimes rest, icing it down, compression and elevation may be all you need. If pain is persistent or recurring, a visit to a medical professional may be in order.
For those who have chronic ankle pain brought on by previous injuries or certain conditions, there are a number of treatments and approaches you can provide yourself in order to alleviate and manage the pain and restore functionality.
Sometimes, simply losing weight, stretching, and incorporating exercises such as calf raises can do wonders for your ankles, reducing the load while strengthening your muscles and tendons.
Ankle Pain Management at Home
If your ankle pain is persistent, Dr Ho’s The Pain Therapy System and The Pain Therapy System Proare transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units that can effectively manage and reduce pain. Once only available for use at clinics and doctors' offices, TENS therapy systems are now available for home use, and work to block pain receptors in the brain, providing pain relief in as little as 20 minutes by facilitating a deep massage that uses gentle electrical waves to soothe painful muscles and joints.
TENS systems can be used to provide relief at any point of the day, and are especially helpful for soothing ankle pain after doing exercises and activities that are intended to gradually strengthen your ankles.
