Why do I feel pain in my lower leg above the ankle when running?

For runners, ankle or leg pain can be a common occurrence. Running is a high-impact activity that can put a lot of stress on the joints. This stress can lead to a few different conditions that can cause pain in your lower leg above the ankle, especially while running. A physical therapist can perform a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of your leg pain and how to treat it.

Do you experience pain in your lower leg above the ankle when running? If so, physical therapy is a natural and effective treatment that can help manage your pain while running.

Causes of pain in lower leg above the ankle while running 

There are a few different common causes of leg pain associated with running. If you experience pain above the ankle while running, one of the following conditions could be the cause:

• Tendinitis — This condition is caused by tendon irritation. Overexertion while running can lead to tendinitis. If the Achilles tendon in the heel is affected by tendinitis, it can cause pain above the ankle. The most common symptoms include a dull sensation of pain and tenderness. It may also be accompanied by some swelling.

• Stress fracture — Tiny fractures in the bone are known as stress fractures. They are usually caused by repetitive impact or force. If runners take on excessive distances, then it can put more stress on their bones. This can result in stress fractures in the shin, which may cause pain above the ankle while running.

• Ankle sprain — Spraining your ankle means you’ve overstretched or torn the ligaments in the joint. This is the tissue that connects the bones together. The most common joint that is sprained in the human body is actually the ankle. The most common symptoms for an ankle sprain are swelling, tenderness, bruising and pain. This can cause pain above the ankle too, depending on the severity of the sprain.

• Ankle strain — An ankle strain has similar symptoms to a sprain. The difference is that a strain is caused by overstretching or tearing the muscles or tendons. The tendons are fibrous tissue that connect the bones and muscles together. Straining your tibialis anterior muscle or tendon can cause pain above the ankle.

Whatcom Physical Therapy is ready to get you running again

If you’re experiencing lower leg pain above the ankle when running, physical therapy can help. Our team at Whatcom Physical Therapy is experts in treating the different causes of ankle pain. Our physical therapists can build you a personalized treatment plan to target the underlying cause of your lower leg and ankle pain. 

Contact our team today for more information about leg or ankle pain when running or to schedule an initial appointment.