Chronic Ankle Pain: If you have constant ankle pain, or if you find yourself always twisting your ankle or having a sprained ankle quite often, there’s a reason this is happening to you. It’s most likely happening because you have improper foot support that also causes you to have balance issues. This includes when you “step wrong” or “roll your ankle.” Best Feet can help you prevent this from happening again whether it’s at home, at work, during sports, while running, jogging or walking, working in the yard, etc. Read on to learn more!

The ankle joint marks the point of connection between the bones of the leg and those of the foot, and controls the raising and lowering of the foot. The ankle is often considered to comprise not only the ankle joint itself but also the structures surrounding it at the lower end of the leg and the beginning of the foot proper. Ankle pain may be symptomatic of inflammation of, or injury to, any of the tissues present in the region, including the joint space, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Ankle pain may be associated with the following symptoms: swelling, bruising, redness, numbness or tingling, instability, burning pain, inability to bear weight on the affected ankle, stiffness, weakness, Tenderness/pain, difficulty in flexing the joint, difficulty in walking, difficulty in bearing weight, stiffness and swelling form a constellation of symptoms which may be indicative of Osteoarthritis.

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Causes
Frequent causes of ankle problems include injuries such as sprains and medical conditions such as arthritis (specifically osteoarthritis)

​Sprained ankle
One of the most frequent causes of ankle pain (accounting for around 85 percent of total ankle problems – according to the National University of Health Sciences (NUHS)) a sprain occurs when the ankle is twisted, causing the ligaments to be over-stretched , or even (in the most severe cases) torn. Most ankle sprains are lateral sprains that occur when the foot rolls, causing the side of the ankle to be pressed to the ground. Small blood vessels rupture in the process and cause the ankle to swell and damage may also occur to the ligaments, these constituting a short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissues holding the bones together. Rolling of the ankle may also damage cartilage or tendons. A sprained ankle will usually display signs of swelling and bruising for one to two weeks, although more serious cases may take several months to heal fully.

Athletes run a greater risk of sprained ankles – more especially players of sports such as golf, tennis, bowling, running, football, basketball and volleyball.

Out of every 10 people with severe ankle sprains, between 1 and 2 people suffer chronic instability of the affected joint which custom fitted orthotics is a proven method to relieve pain and prevent further injury and pain.

​A sprained ankle may remain permanently weakened and of compromised stability following the healing of the injury. The biggest risk factor for an ankle sprain is a previous ankle sprain, according to a review published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Prevention is key and that’s what we help with at Best Feet!

​Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints, causing swelling in and around the joints of the body and their surrounding soft tissues. This inflammation can cause pain and stiffness and is one of the most common causes of ankle problems.

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In many types of arthritis, progressive joint degeneration in the joint occurs and smooth “buffered” cartilage is gradually lost, causing the bones rub against each other and wear, as well as the soft joint tissue. Arthritis can be unbearably painful and can lead ultimately to limited movement, serious loss of joint function and even deformity of affected joints.

There are many types of arthritis, of which osteoarthritis is very common cause of ankle pain. This is caused by cumulative wear and tear of the joint and may also result in swelling and deformity. It occurs most frequently in the old, with the likelihood of osteoarthritis increasing with age.

How osteoarthritis influences the feet and ankles

The human foot has 28 bones and more than 30 joints. The following foot joints are those most commonly affected by osteoarthritis:

1) The three foot joints, including the heel – yes, there are 3 foot joints!

2) the medial and the mid-foot bone

3) big toe and foot bone joint – The joints at which the ankle and the tibia meet

Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis constitutes yet another possible cause of pain in the ankle that can be relieved via shoe insoles that are custom fitted.

Tendonitis in the ankle
Tendonitis is one of the most common causes of pain in the foot or ankle. The muscles of the legs, feet and ankles are fixed to the bones by tendons, which are strong rope-like structures. Tendonitis is inflammation around a tendon, leading to pain experienced during and after activity, which abates temporarily, but returns upon resumption of exercise.

Common forms of tendonitis affecting the foot and ankle include Achilles tendonitis, posterior tibial tendonitis, peroneal tendinosis, flexor tendonitis, and extensor tendonitis. Self-care and custom fitted orthotic shoe insoles usually heal these injuries in a few weeks and prevent future episodes of pain.

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Common causes
Overuse: The most common cause of tendonitis is overuse, which means that the tendon is overstretched and may be slightly pulled apart or torn. This happens when activities increase, including everything from walking to participating in competitive sports.

Sports Injury: Ankle problems are highly synonymous with high-octane sports such as tennis, basketball & football where the ankle region is always in close danger of getting injured. Properly fitted athletic shoe inserts are incredible at preventing injury!

Abnormal foot structure: Problems such as flat feet or high arches can create muscle imbalances that put pressure on one or more tendons.

Trauma: Injury to the foot or ankle can cause tendinitis. This can happen by sudden and powerful actions such as jumping. Another form of trauma is chronic friction on the shoe, which usually occurs at the top of the foot or heel, causing tendinitis in these areas.

Best Feet professionally fit orthotic shoe arch supports provide immediate pain relief related to this condition. Our pain relief experts are here for you with a free evaluation and balance test with no obligation. Don’t live in pain, book online, call or just walk in for same-day relief!

Get a free pain evaluation, book online now!