Four reasons your ankles hurt after running

Running is a great way to stay fit and relieve stress, but it also puts strain on your body that can lead to harm if you’re not prepared. 

A part of your body that is frequently affected by running is your ankles. They bear a lot of your body weight and are responsible for flexing and bending your foot so you can run. If you ever notice ankle pain while running or after you’ve finished, you should take it seriously. 

Pay attention to the symptoms. Is it just a little soreness that goes away after a few hours? Does it last longer or occur every time you run? Is the pain burning and sharp? Have you lost any range of motion?

Take a look below to learn more about what causes your ankles to hurt after running and why you may need to see a physical therapist for treatment. 

Four reasons you have ankle pain after running

1. Tendinitis — Tendinitis is the inflammation of your tendons. Repetitive strain to the ankle, especially if you run with poor gait or footwear, can cause inflammation to develop. A common tendon that becomes inflamed from running is the Achilles tendon. It runs along the back of your heel to your calf, and it is one of the main tendons used when flexing your ankles to walk or run.
   After a running session, if you feel pain along the back of your ankle to your heel, it’s probably related to inflammation.
2. Stress fracture — A stress fracture is a small crack in your bones that occurs when the bone absorbs too much shock. If you run a lot and your ankles don’t have proper support or if you have a condition that weakens your bones, you may develop a stress fracture in your ankles.
3. Arthritis — Arthritis is a degenerative condition that wears down the cartilage in your joints. It can affect the cartilage in your ankles, which causes the bones to rub together. This friction is painful and can cause stiffness in the ankles. In its early stages, you may begin to notice long-lasting pain in the ankles after going on a run.
4. Strain or sprain — Strains and sprains are stretched and torn muscles, tendons and ligaments. These are last on the list because the pain from a strain or sprain is more obvious immediately. However, mild strains and sprains can take a while to notice, which is why you might not feel any pain until after you’ve finished your run. 

Visit Whatcom Physical Therapy for ankle pain treatment

It’s no fun being confined to a couch to recover from pain when you love to run. You should visit a physical therapist for treatment. Our physical therapists at Whatcom can help you get back on your feet again. Contact our team today for more information about ankle pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.