Causes of Ankle Pain When Running
There are close to five causes of ankle pain when running. The pain may result from an ankle sprain or strain, tendonitis, or stress fracture. It may also be brought by instability or arthritis, as discussed below:
1. Ankle Sprain or Strain
An ankle sprain is an injury targeting the ligament, while an ankle strain occurs when a tendon or muscle is torn or overstretched. You may experience sprains or strains due to a traumatic injury to your ankle.
One incorrect landing or misstep may twist your ankle and cause pain. Though you may get back on the feet, ligaments, and muscles in the ankle will develop micro-tears. Sprains and strains are quite treatable when you attend to them early.
2. Ankle Tendonitis
You may develop ankle tendonitis when a tendon in your ankle is inflamed, torn, or swollen. Different types of tendonitis may make your ankle hurt when running. These types target other bone fragments in your ankle.
Regardless of the type of tendonitis you’re experiencing, they all have the same causes. These causes include bad footwear, improper running form, and excessive use. Other causes include tight calf muscles and flat feet.
3. Ankle Stress Fracture
Ankle stress fractures develop when your legs can’t absorb the shock of repetitive force. If you overtrain or run excessively, you’re likely to have tiny cracks in the leg bones. These cracks may worsen under stress and lead to fractures.
Stress fractures irritate the outer lining of your ankle bones. If left untreated, they can derail your running routine. The fractures worsen when you add force to your legs when engaging in physical activities.
4. Ankle Instability and Biomechanics
It’s common for your ankles to give out when too much weight is placed on them. Ankle instability may make it hard for you to run and cause chronic pain.
Your ankles may get wobbly and weak with excessive leg motion. As a result, your feet may lose balance and derail your running routine.
Wearing ill-fitting shoes may cause instability in your ankles. It’s thus important to get your wobbling ankles checked and have shoes fitted by an expert.
5. Ankle Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of chronic pain that affects people (including runners) of all ages. Your ankles may hurt when running due to post-traumatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or knee osteoarthritis.
In each instance, your ankle joints will be weakened or damaged. You may experience a lack of mobility and stiffness due to ankle arthritis. It’s wise to track the symptoms and seek medical intervention before they worsen.
Top Ways of Treating Ankle Pain
Treatments for ankle pain when running will depend on the intensity of the injury. Seeking treatment can help promote healing, restore ankle function and reduce pain. Here are some of the therapies to consider if your ankles hurt when running:
1. Self-Care
As part of self-care for an ankle injury, you should take time to rest – it comes in avoiding ankle pain. You may also use an ice slush bath or ice pack for up to 20 minutes every three hours. Consult your physician if you have diabetes or vascular disease before using ice for treatment.
Compressing the ankle with a stretchable bandage can also promote healing. You may also lift your ankle upwards to drain excess fluid and remedy any swelling.
2. Medications
Over-the-counter pain medication, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, can help you get relief when running with ankle pain. Don’t take them if you are allergic to any medicine.
3. Physiotherapy
Guided physiotherapy can help you regain ankle stability, strength, and flexibility. The physiotherapist will recommend an appropriate therapy to help you heal. They will also inform you when you can resume running.
4. Surgery
If your ankle remains unstable or fails to heal after physiotherapy, you should undergo surgery. Surgery may also be an ideal treatment option if you fail to progress in a rehabilitative program.
When done correctly, surgery can repair ligaments that don’t heal. The procedure may also reconstruct ligaments with tissues extracted from nearby tendons or ligaments.
If you have severely damaged ankle joints or arthritis, undergoing ankle replacement can help. During this procedure, the surgeon will place a plastic or metal ankle implant to replace the affected ankle joint. Ankle replacement helps restore ankle function and reduce pain.
5. Podiatric Appointment
See a podiatrist if the ankle pain progresses to more than three days. A doctor’s appointment will also help if you can’t run after taking a one-week rest or you can’t bear weight on the ankle.
Schedule the appointment if your ankle feels unstable or numb or if it develops symptoms of an infection. Do the same if you’ve had ankle injuries a couple of times.
Need Further Help for Ankle Pain When Running?
Never let a slight ankle injury stop you from enjoying physical activities like running. Consider the treatment options discussed in this guide if you experience ankle pain when running. Consult a podiatrist if the symptoms persist or the ankle fails to heal.
Reach out to My MSK for joint, muscular, and back pain treatments. The facility is run by Dr AKhtar, a registered osteopath with extensive experience in osteopathy and manual therapy. Book a My MSK appointment today to speak to a back, muscles, and joint specialist.
