Why do I keep waking up with stiff ankles in the morning?

In many cases, the answer to this question can be simple. For instance, you might have walked too far the day before. But such a cause is less likely if you wake up with stiff ankles every morning. 

Ankle pain and stiffness are more common than you might think. A medical study reports that up to 15% of the general population is likely dealing with some type of ankle pain. A physical therapist can help you learn the cause of ankle stiffness or pain that happens every morning. These specialists can also offer treatment for your ankle stiffness and pain.

These issues can lead to ankle pain in the morning

Each person’s daily activities and ankles are different, but a therapy specialist can do a comprehensive evaluation to determine the cause of your ankle symptoms. 

This evaluation may involve multiple movement tests. It can also include questions about your lifestyle or past ankle injuries. Some of the issues that your evaluation could uncover include: 

• Ankle osteoarthritis
• Achilles tendinitis
• Flat feet
• Ankle sprains
• Bone spurs
• Poorly fitted shoes

What can a physical therapist do to reduce ankle stiffness in the morning?

Once they understand its cause, your physical therapist can take steps to reduce your ankle pain. They may suggest changes to your daily routine. Additionally, your specialist could recommend different shoes or using shoe insoles. 

Furthermore, your physical therapist will build you a therapy plan that’s personalized to fit your needs. Such a plan can include therapy methods like: 

• Joint mobilization
• At-home care
• Dry needling
• Virtual therapy
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)

Advent Physical Therapy can help you find relief from ankle stiffness and pain

Looking for therapeutic care that can help reduce your ankle stiffness and pain? Our Advent Physical Therapy specialists can build you a therapy plan to meet this goal. We offer free screenings to pinpoint the root cause of your pain. In addition, our physical therapists excel at building individualized therapy plans designed to decrease pain and improve your ability to move. 

Don’t have a doctor’s referral for physical therapy? That’s OK! Our physical therapists are happy to work with your doctor to help you recover from ankle issues, but we also don’t require a doctor’s referral to assist you. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can assist you with ankle symptoms or to schedule an initial appointment.