Most Common Causes
Almost everyone has had issues with their ankle at one point or another.
Common causes of ankle pain are:
- Tendinitis
- Sprains
- Bursitis
- Dislocations
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Lupus
- Gout
Prevention
Improve your balance in the ankle. This will help prevent any sudden injuries to ankle because it will allow the ankle to be prepared in sudden movements. Make sure to build up your ankle strength by doing exercises specific to that area and the muscles that work there. Stretch your muscles in the ankle. Make sure to condition yourself before participating in strenuous activity. Be careful when walking or running on uneven surfaces. Make sure to wear shoes that fit properly and replace your workout shoes frequently to avoid exercising in shoes that are too old.
What to do
If you have injured your ankle, it is important to remember the acronym PRICE. Which stands for protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation. These are things you can do on your own to help reduce your pain and prevent further injury to the area. When resting, make sure you rest for at least two weeks to prevent further injury. Seek medical attention if the pain persists, and you have swelling that will not go away, or if there are signs of infection. Physical Therapy can be beneficial to helping you regain your strength and overcoming the injury so you can get back to normal as soon as possible. It will also reduce your chances of reinjuring the area.
Hurtful Activities
Trying strenuous activity without training beforehand will put you at risk for ankle injury. Walking and running on uneven surfaces can increase your risk of injury. Shoes that do not fit properly or are old can increase your risk as well. If you have injured your ankle before, you are more likely to reinjure your ankle.
What Pick PT can do for you
Pick PT Physical therapy can help you recover more quickly. The Physical Therapist will design a program tailored to your specific injury and your goals. They will help to improve your range of motion so you can return to exercising as soon as possible. The program will also help you to improve your strength, flexibility, and endurance. They will give you exercises that you can perform at home that will not only help you post-injury but will help you to continue to avoid injury in the future. The Physical Therapist can also help you know when it is safe to return to activity and the steps you should take to get there. Our Doctors of physical therapy at Pick PT are trained in manual skills that can help reduce the pain quickly in your ankle and/or foot. We’ll get you back to Living Life Moving!
