3 reasons you may be feeling ankle pain without an injury

Has ankle pain with no apparent cause been a pesky source of pain for you lately? It may feel difficult to pinpoint the source of your ankle pain if a sudden injury didn’t cause it. However, this type of pain is experienced by nearly 15% of middle to older adults in the United States. If you’re one of those, here are some potential causes and some ways that a physical therapist may be able to help your pain.

What are some common causes of ankle pain without injury?

Have you struggled with ankle pain lately and can’t pinpoint when it began or what may have caused it? There are several possible causes of ankle pain without an obvious injury. Some of the most common causes include:

• Flat feet — Flat feet occur when someone is either born with or develops low or weak arches. When weight is applied to the arches, the arches flatten. People who have flat feet walk with the middle of their feet touching the ground. Some people don’t develop arches as they get older, while others have flat feet as a result of fallen arches. Some people might not notice any uncomfortable symptoms, while others experience a variety. Some symptoms of this condition may include pain, achiness, tingling, sharp pain, and even pain in the ankles. For those who develop pain in their ankles, it’s usually because the inside of the foot and ankle has rotated inward.

• Achilles tendinitis — Achilles tendinitis can cause ankle pain to occur without any apparent source of injury. This type of tendinitis is usually caused by strain or repetitive movements. When the tendon that connects the heel bone to the calf muscle becomes inflamed, the result can be pain around the ankle area that occurs without any sudden injury.

• Ankle bursitis — Ankle bursitis is another common cause of ankle pain that occurs without any apparent injury. Bursitis is a condition that occurs when the bursae, pockets of fluid that cushion the joints, become inflamed from repetitive movements or excessive pressure. Bursitis can occur in the ankle joints and cause pain in the ankle without injury.

What can a physical therapist do for someone experiencing ankle pain without an injury?

Physical therapy can be a great resource for those who have ankle pain without an injury. Here are just a couple of ways that PT can help:

• Manual therapy — One way that physical therapy can improve someone’s ankle pain that hasn’t been caused by an injury is through manual therapy. Manual therapy involves a physical therapist using their hands to break up areas of dense tissue, manipulate joints, and encourage blood flow to areas of the body for faster healing and improved mobility. During manual therapy, someone with ankle pain caused by no apparent injury may experience relief in the muscles around their ankle. They may also feel relief over time as a result of more oxygen and increased blood flow around the ankle during therapy sessions.

• IASTM — Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is another technique that can be used to help someone with ankle pain but no obvious injury. Just as manual therapy does, IASTM breaks up dense tissue and encourages oxygen and blood flow to targeted body areas. During IASTM treatment sessions, a physical therapist will use a stainless steel tool over the skin around the ankle. The tool will loosen the tense tissue around the ankle and promote circulation as well.

Let Advent Physical Therapy treat your ankle pain

Are you struggling with ankle pain that occurs without any obvious injury? Our team of physical therapists can help. At Advent Physical Therapy, we use a variety of evidence-based PT treatments, like manual therapy and IASTM, to help patients with pain in their ankles, feet and any other region of the body.

Our patients’ health and wellness are our first priority at Advent Physical Therapy. We understand how much getting your mobility and comfort back may mean to you. When it comes to improving your ankle pain, we’re your go-to. Our clinic has some of the best physical therapists who want to help you reach your unique goals. We’re a team-oriented group of professionals who work with each of our patients to create the most effective outcomes.

We create long-term, personalized treatment plans to optimize your health. We value building relationships with our patients and helping them prevent pain from cropping up in the future. 

Call us or request an appointment today for relief from your ankle pain.