It’s usually nothing to worry about if you have a sore ankle every now and then. However, if you have prolonged or intense top of the ankle pain, you may need to visit a health care professional for treatment. 

There are many conditions that could cause top of the ankle pain that require professional treatment, such as:

• Tendinitis — Tendinitis is inflammation of your tendons that develops from prolonged irritation from repetitive activities or strain. Frequent use of the ankles in activities involving running or jumping can lead to tendinitis along the top of your foot and ankle. Wearing shoes that fit too tightly increases your chance of tendinitis in the feet and ankles.
• Stress fractures — Repetitive strain or a traumatic impact to the foot or ankles, such as a fall, can cause a stress fracture. This can occur in the metatarsal bones, which are the bones located in the top of your feet. A stress fracture in your metatarsals can cause pain and swelling that spreads into the ankle area.
• Arthritis — Arthritis causes the cartilage in your joints to break down over time, which can include the cartilage in your ankles. If this happens in your ankles, you might feel top of the ankle pain as a symptom.
• Nerve conditions — Nerve conditions, such as peripheral neuropathy or a traumatic injury affecting the nerves, can cause pain and numbness to spread throughout the feet and ankles.
• Bone spurs — Conditions like arthritis or a traumatic injury can cause pieces of bone or cartilage to fragment. Known as bone spurs, these fragments can lodge themselves in your joint or rub up against tendons, causing pain and stiffness.

Treating top of the ankle pain with physical therapy

Treatment options for ankle pain vary depending on the cause and severity of your pain, but in many cases, physical therapy can help. Physical therapists can examine your ankles and guide you through a personalized treatment routine involving the use of methods like:

• Stretches and exercises for improving muscle and soft tissue strength and flexibility.
• Balance exercises to help prevent falls.
• Gait analysis to review how your ankle pain affects your ability to walk.
• Manual therapy to help reduce pain, tension and scar tissue.
• Posture guidance to help reduce strain on your ankles caused by poor posture.

Visit Continuum Wellness today for top of the ankle pain treatment

Do you have top of the ankle pain that makes it hurt to stand, walk, run or jump? Our team at Continuum Wellness can help. We can examine your condition and create a personalized treatment plan that can help you reach your recovery goals. Contact our team today for more information about top of the ankle pain or to schedule an initial appointment.