You have probably heard the phrase “you should get that checked out” quite a lot these days. Let’s face it ankle pain isn’t something that should be treated as a joke. Are you wondering, why do my ankles hurt when I run?
It is extremely important to identify the location or the source of the pain and treat it as soon as possible. There isn’t anything as irritating as an ankle pain that doesn’t go away or is persistent.
The problem becomes even more severe when it hampers your day-to-day activities.
It is extremely important for you to figure out why your ankles are hurting. What might be causing it and ways to avoid ankle and leg injuries?
Did you know that ankle pain is one of the most common problems that affect runners all around the world?
It stops a lot of runners on their tracks as every step that a runner takes puts an enormous amount of weight and pressure on their ankles. This can eventually cause ankle pain.
The best thing to do at this point is to identify the root cause of the pain and find out solutions or alternatives to avoid further pain and ankle-related complications.
With the right preventive measure, you too can avoid pain and tears.
Why Do My Ankles Hurt When I Run?
Stress and repeated impact can cause chronic pain, sprains, and fractures and make the situation even worse.
However, there can be multiple reasons due to which you might be feeling a sharp pain in your ankles when you run. Some of these reasons include tendonitis, ankle arthritis, ankle instability, and more.
What are the Common Symptoms of Ankle Pain?
The symptoms of ankle pain can vary from one individual to another, given their age, body weight, or the kind of injuries that they have been exposed to!
Given below are some of the common symptoms associated with ankle pain.
- Consistent and constant dull aching.
- Sharp pain felt in the back, front, inside or outside section of the ankle.
3. Experiencing pinching sensations.
4. Visible bruising or tenderness.
5. Visible swelling in the joint and stiffness felt while running or walking.
6. Instability while running or walking
7. Reduced and low ability to run, walk or bear weight.
Why Does Your Ankle Hurt While you are Running?
Sore Ankles Caused due to Excessive Running
Sore ankles can be persistent and can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. The hardest part still lies in determining what kind of injury might have caused you the discomfort.
Therefore, the best way to deal with a persisting ankle injury that doesn’t go away in spite of consuming medications or home remedies is to visit a doctor.
An adult human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and countless muscles and tendons. However, pinpointing your pain source is essential to determine the correct medications or exercises and the best way to do all of the above is by consulting or visiting a doctor.
Ankle Sprains or Strains
Sprains and strains are one of the most commonly faced problems that runners face. A strain happens when a tendon or a muscle is overstretched or torn. A sprain occurs when the ligaments get affected.
Ankle strains and sprains are mostly caused by a traumatic single injury. This can happen while moving through an uneven area which causes missteps or incorrect landings which further causes the ankle to roll painfully.
The situation can get worse when tiny micro-tears in the muscles and ligaments could additionally create serious injuries.
Ankle Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are caused when repeated impacts cause the formation of tiny cracks in your bones.
They are extremely painful in nature and can cause prolonged discomfort. If this injury is left untreated it will cause a lot of discomfort and will cause even more damage.
It takes up to 6 weeks for stress fractures to heal. With proper treatment and consultation, you will be on your feet in no time.
Tendonitis
Inflammation of a tendon that further causes frays, tear, or swells is known as Tendonitis. There are several tendons in the foot region and injury to any of them may cause a lot of discomforts.
Tendonitis, in general, is caused due to excessive use, improper running form, low arches, tight calf muscles, ramping up your mileage too quickly, flat feet, and bad footwear.
The symptoms are mostly felt after running or during the early mornings.
Ankle Arthritis
This form of arthritis can affect runners of any age. There are three types of arthritis that affect the foot are Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis.
In all cases the common symptoms that can be observed are joint damage, weakening of joint, stiffness, and lack of mobility. The symptoms are going to progressively get worse if left untreated.
Ankle Instability
There are instances where the ankles of some individuals might be weak. This causes ankle instability which causes the ankles to lose their stability upon receiving injury or weight.
This causes chronic pain and frequent injury while running. Very often. Injuries received could spread upward and outward if left untreated or ignored.
Also, weak knees could be the end result of overpronation this further weakens the supporting ligaments. Overpronation causes the foot to roll inwards causing uneven absorption of impact.
However, please know that some pronation is needed for shock absorption the problem occurs when overpronation occurs.
How Can I Recover From the Pain?
The recovery procedure, as well as the pace of recovery, can be very different from person to person. Let us take a look at some of the recovery procedures that you can opt for!
- Cold Compression: Cold compression helps to get rid of the sharp stabbing pain that you feel in your ankles after a run. Put some ice in a cotton cloth, tie it up and hold it over the affected area!
- Anti- inflammatory medications: Taking prescribed anti-inflammatory medications or painkillers can also be a good way to ease the pain and discomfort that comes from running for a while.
- Rest: The only way to heal quickly and efficiently from ankle pain is to provide adequate rest to your feet. Try to limit your walking or running sessions, wear comfortable shoes and give your feet the rest that it deserves!
- Physiotherapy: If you want to find a long term solution for your ankle pain, physiotherapy should be your first priority. Physiotherapists can recognise your problem and provide a range of therapy dedicated to solving your ankle problem.
Bottom Line
In this article, we have covered all the reasons why your ankles might hurt after a running or jogging session. Make sure you look into your symptoms closely and visit a medical practitioner before things get out of hand!
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