4 conditions that can cause ankle pain at night

Ankle pain can occur for a variety of reasons. It can also cause a variety of symptoms, like instability, immobility, and pain. These symptoms can make ankle pain disruptive to everyday activities, but even more disruptive to sleep in some cases. Those who experience ankle pain will often report that it worsens during the night or throughout sleep. If you’re experiencing ankle or foot pain at night, take a look at some of the causes and treatments listed in the sections below.

What are some conditions that can cause ankle pain to occur at night?

There are a few kinds of conditions that could cause ankle pain to affect someone during the nighttime. Take a look at the list below to determine if you may be dealing with any of these relevant conditions. If you think you may have one of the conditions listed below, it may be in your best interest to reach out to a physical therapist who can help. 

• Ankle sprains — Ankle sprains are one such condition that can cause ankle pain to occur. It's possible to experience pain during nighttime due to inflammation and swelling. If your leg is not elevated enough as you sleep or needs to be iced, this may be why you're experiencing pain at night from an ankle sprain. 
• Arthritis — Another condition that can cause ankle pain at night is arthritis. Joint inflammation often worsens with inactivity. This means that sleeping for extended periods without moving can make your ankle feel stiffer and more painful than during the day when you're moving around. 
• Broken ankle — A broken ankle may also cause ankle pain that can be felt during the nighttime. During sleep, anti-inflammatory responses are slowed, and pain may become more noticeable.
• Tendinitis — Tendonitis may also be another cause of ankle pain that worsens at night, usually for reasons similar to when it occurs in a broken ankle.

What are some examples of physical therapy techniques that could help with ankle pain at night?

There are several different kinds of physical therapy techniques that a therapist might ask you to perform. These techniques may help you build muscle strength and range of motion while reducing inflammation.

• Band-assisted stretching — One example of a physical therapy technique that could be used to help with ankle pain at night is band-assisted stretching. A physical therapist might ask you to sit in a chair with a band around the sole of your foot. From there, you will likely be asked to push your foot against the band to stretch both your foot and ankle. Keep your foot and ankle stretched for a few seconds at a time before releasing.
• Raised leg rotations — Another example of a physical therapy technique that could help ankle pain at night is raised leg rotations. To perform a raised leg rotation, you’ll be asked to lie on your back and extend one leg in the air at a time. Next, you’ll use your ankle to move your foot from side to side while keeping your leg raised. Repeat several times for each leg.
• Seated ankle stretches — One more example of a PT technique that may be Used to help you reduce ankle pain at night is called the seated ankle stretch. To perform the seated ankle stretch, you must be in a chair with both legs on the floor. Then raise one of your legs over the other thigh. Use one hand to press down on the top of your foot and stretch your ankle. Hold that stretch for a few seconds, then repeat with the other foot. 

Ready to take the next step toward finding relief from ankle pain that keeps you up at night? Alliance PTP can help you find a physical therapist near you

At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we’re proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. 

Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that’s close to you and that can help you address your ankle pain. If you’re experiencing pain that keeps you tossing and turning at night, that’s all the more reason to let us help you find relief. 

Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform. 

Come find help for your injury or chronic condition today!