Dealing with Ankle Pain After Running

When you think of the word “adventure” what comes to mind? Maybe your thoughts go to jumping out of a plane, visiting a faraway place, or simply trying a daring gourmet recipe. In Houston, TX, that word gets families excited for the Great Amazing Race! Taking place on November 16^th, 2013, this race for adults and kids has teams completing various challenges along a one-mile course. Don’t miss out!

An exhilarating run can be dampened quickly if it ends with pain – ankle pain in particular. Have you experienced this as a runner? It is important to understand that engaging in running puts an extreme amount of stress on your feet and ankles. To give you an idea, your feet will strike the ground around 15,000 times during a ten-mile run, and it will be at a force up to four times your body weight. Even so, keep in mind that foot or ankle pain is not normal and should always be looked into.

The ankle joint is a key factor in enabling propulsion during running and there are a few common reasons why pain in this area could be occurring. A slight inward roll of the ankle can damage ligaments on the outside and cause aching, pain and swelling. Many times a small stumble doesn’t cause immediate symptoms but ones that progress over time. It is also common to experience pain in the ankle in association with Achilles tendonitis. The Achilles tendon connects the heel bone to the calf muscles and a strain to this tendon could result in posterior ankle pain. Finally, another common cause we see involves stress or full fractures in a bone. Lack of stretching or warm up, overuse, and bad running shoes could cause a fracture to develop.

The bottom line is that you need to know what is causing the pain in order to treat it properly. That is when we can step in and help – something even as simple as a custom orthotic can make a world of difference in you ankle comfort! Deal with ankle pain the right way and call Dr. Jeff Bowman at Houston Foot Specialists today. You can make an appointment at our office in Houston, TX by calling (713) 467-8886.