Ankle Pain

Most of the common causes of ankle pain are movement or weakness issues that have lead to a gradual build up of stress in the connective tissues of the ankle over time. Other causes include injury and even serious disease processes. Potential causes of ankle pain include… 

Very high arches
Flat feet or low arches
Tight IT Band
Genetic predispositions 
Scar tissue
Weakness in lower leg & ankle muscles 
Weakness in hip & knee muscles
Glutes not firing properly
Old injuries and sprains
Problems with running technique
Back problems
Muscle Tears
Bone Cancers
Infections
Arthritis 

The best ankle pain treatment is ultimately the one that proves to be effective in your particular case. In many ways treatment for pain is a lot like diet, in the sense that we all have requirements that are somewhat unique. 

We assess your ankle symptoms, history and movement before discussing appropriate treatment, rehabilitation or referral.

Specific treatments for ankle pain that have proven useful for us over the years include..

Acupuncture 
Cryotherapy 
Scar Tissue Release ( Graston Technique / Guasha )
Deep Tissue Release
Post-Isometric Stretches
Joint Mobilisation
Extracorporeal Shock Therapy 
Balance & Proprioception Exercises
Custom Orthotics

There are a great many tendons that cross the ankle joint. These tendons are the attachments for the muscles of the lower leg many of which are just passing through on their way to insertions on the foot bones. Ankle tendonitis or ankle tendinosis as we prefer to call it these days is caused by microscopic wear and tear in an ankle tendon. 

The primary symptom associated with ankle tendonitis/ ankle tendinosis is pain related to movement. Some cases of ankle tendinitis generate sharp sudden ‘catching’ or ‘pinching’ pain felt at certain times and in certain positions. Other cases of tendinitis manifest as difficulty bearing weight or moving without what feels like pain from the joint. Achilles tendinitis/tendinosis is soften associated with obvious thickening of the tendon. 

Web based information like this can be an excellent way to raise your ‘health IQ’, we do however advise against self diagnosis. If you have persistent ankle pain and you suspect it could be tendinosis or tendonitis  get yourself to someone professionally trained to diagnose ankle pains. 

Scar tissue, tendonitis, flat feet, muscle weakness, unresolved sprains, arthritis, joint infections, bone diseases and even gout can cause ankle pain with no swelling. It’s more probable that you have some scar tissue, weakness or an unresolved sprain than anything more serious. Persistent pains, however, are not supposed to be ignored, so see a trained health professional if you are having problems. 

There are many pain conditions that can feel very much like the onset of ankle arthritis. The only reliable way to know if you have ankle arthritis is by a combination of a physical exam and X-Ray. It is worth being aware that confirming that you have ankle arthritis doesn’t also mean that your pain is arthritic pain. Many people, for example, have ankle arthritis and ankle tendonitis and find that it was, in fact, the tendonitis causing their pain. 

As you may have gathered we advise against attempts at self-diagnosing conditions like ankle arthritis. If you have stubborn pain and stiffness in one or both of your ankles that is proving to be persistent seek professional advice. 

There is a wide range of physical issues that can cause sharp ankle pains when walking. The possible causes are much the same as the possible causes of any kind of ankle pain and they include..

Very high arches
Flat feet
Scar tissue
Weakness in lower leg & ankle muscles
Weakness in hip & knee muscles
Old injuries and sprains
Problems with running technique
Muscle Tears
Bone Cancers
Infections
Arthritis