What causes ankle pain?

The ankle joint comprises three sub-joints that allow for multidirectional movement.

The ankle bears roughly five times the body weight simply when walking, and up to thirteen times when running, hopping, and pivoting. With this much movement and force, your ligaments, muscles and tendons are put under stress and can be injured as your efforts exceed their capacity.

Injuries can be caused by trauma during sports or activities, and/or can be caused through overuse and repetitive loading.

You may experience pain, swelling, tightness and/or weakness around the ankle initially, and these injuries can be managed with physiotherapy acutely in the first instance as well as planning your recovery journey. You don’t need a referral to see a Physiotherapist and if indicated, we can organise imaging and/or onward specialist referral for underlying bony and/or tissue trauma to qualify for injury management direction.

How Physiosouth treats ankle pain

• Record a detailed history – including how you sustained the injury and any history of ankle injuries in the past
• Assess your ankle and lower limb by looking at – movement, strength, stability, functional patterns and special tests
• Diagnosing your injury, and providing insight into the structures affected
• Discuss initial and ongoing management strategies for your injury-related pain, swelling and disability.
• Providing manual therapy when indicated and agreed upon between both parties (ie. soft tissue massage, dry needling or acupuncture, joint mobilisation or manipulation)
• Developing a progressive load exercise programme tailored to meeting and exceeding your activity goals as well as reducing the likelihood of recurrence.

Outcome of treatment

Recovery pathways from ankle injuries can be straightforward and/or convoluted due to underlying tissue/joint trauma and our clinical team are experienced in working with you to facilitate the most timely return to your activity/sport expectations. Our main goal is to ensure you have the tools to return to what you love doing at as well and maybe better and longer than prior to the injury.

In the case you require further input, we can refer on to the specialists who meet your needs but will still have an active part in your recovery.