Your Ankle Pain Running Guide

Running boasts many health benefits, but also comes with a downside: it can be extremely hard on your lower extremities, and your ankles are no exception.

Why?

The ankles assume a big responsibility.

The joint carries around the weight of your entire body while walking, running, jumping, or performing any standing movement—more than other weight-bearing joints, like your knees and hips.

For these reasons (and some more), don’t be surprised if you experience ankle soreness or pain while running.

Ankle Pain Running Explained

Made up a grouping of bones, ligaments, and tendons, the ankle is a complex body part that forms the link between your body and the ground.

Injury or conditions that afflict any of these ankle structures may result in pain.

Most ankle pains sustained while running are either acute injuries, such an ankle sprain, or more of a repetitive-use ailment such as Achilles tendinitis.

Your Ankle Pain Running Guide

Let’s delve a bit deeper into the main causes of ankle pain during and/or after running.

Ankle Pain Running – 1. Ankle Sprain

If you experience pain above your ankle bone, especially following a misstep, twisting, or rolling of the joint, then blame it on an ankle sprain.

The condition is an injury of one or more of the ligaments that make up the ankle joint.

It’s usually caused by running on an uneven surface, stepping off a curb, or simply landing awkwardly.

In some cases, you feel or hear a ‘pop’ followed by sharp pain.

An ankle sprain can also result in swelling—the joint will get visibly enlarged soon after getting injured.

Treatment Of Ankle Sprains

Although it’s a drag, ankle sprains are one of the easiest conditions to can recover from.

Typically, a sprain will heal in a few weeks, even days with proper rest and treatment.

To treat it, opt for the RICE method—rest, ice, compress, and elevate—and in cases of acute pain, take anti-inflammatories for 24 to 48 hours post-injury.

Once you can put the entire of your body weight on the injured limb and perform several ankle movements pain-free, then start running again in a slow and gradual manner.

Seek medical care in case pain and swelling persist beyond a week.

Ankle Pain Running –2. Achilles Tendonitis

If you feel pain during the first few minutes of your run, subsidies, then returns after your running, then you could have Achilles tendinitis.

This condition is an irritation of a large tendon commonly referred to as the Achilles tendon, which is located at the back of your ankle.

This tendon connects the gastrocnemius and the soleus, two key running muscles, to the heel.

Some of the main symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include tenderness, stiffness, and more often mild or severe pain in the back of the ankle and calf.

The condition is caused by overuse, ill-fitting shoes, improper fit, or running in one direction on the track.

Treatment Of Achilles Tendonitis

There are many treatments for Achilles tendinitis.

These include :

• Decreasing training intensity or stopping altogether.
• Cold therapy
• Self-care such as elevation and or compression.
• Taking anti-inflammatory medications.

In severe cases, more invasive treatment options might be the solution. These include :

• Steroid injections.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Surgery

Ankle Pain Running – 3. Stress Fractures

You could have a stress fracture if your ankle is tender or bruised, and you’re entirely unable to run on it.

Another overuse-induced injury, stress fractures manifest as small cracks in the anklebones.

When you place too much force on a bone, the latter might not be able to take any more.

This usually happens when your muscles can no absorb the impact stress, resulting in the muscles transferring the stress to the bones, causing a crack.

The condition is typically accompanied by redness, swelling, or loss of feeling in the toes.

Treatment of Stress Fractures

Seek professional treatment if you suspect a stress fracture.

Having a bad history of the condition can also set the stage for arthritis later in life.

Here’s your complete guide to treating and preventing stress fractures.

Ankle Pain Running – 4. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Also known as the carpal tunnel syndrome of the ankle, this condition occurs when the ligaments and the other tissues in the foot compress, placing undue pressure on the posterior tibial nerve.

This nerve is found near your ankle, and it branches out off of the sciatic nerve.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome often results in a burning or aching numb or pain or tingling sensation on the ankle, heel, sole of the foot, and toes.

These sensations are usually felt on the inside of the ankle and on the bottom of the foot.

Some of the main culprits behind the injury include tendon swelling, foot pronation, and arthritis.

Additional Resource – Your guide to runners itch

Treatment of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Again, treatment depends on the severity of tarsal tunnel syndrome.

Nonsurgical options include rest, ice therapy, and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.

But, if pain persists, you should seek medical assistance.

In some cases, surgery is required.

Conclusion

The best way for treating ankle pain—or any other sort of pain for that matter—is to avoid it in the first place.

Though it often comes with the territory in a high impact sport like running, there’s a lot you can do in the way of prevention.

The above ankle pain guidelines should get you started on the right foot—no pun intended.

But if you want more advice and guidelines, check some of my following posts :

• How to treat Common Running injuries
• How often should you replace your running shoes?
• How to prevent knee pain.
• Is running bad for your knees and joints?
• How to prevent Foot pain in runners
• Heel pain from running guide

Please feel free to leave your comments and questions below.

In the meantime thank you for reading my post

Keep running strong

David D.