Ankle pain when walking: 4 top causes you should know about

If you’ve ever dealt with ankle pain, you know how disruptive it can be to everyday life. Ankle pain can make walking to class, playing your favorite sport or walking your dog feel uncomfortable and tedious. This type of pain affects roughly 12% of all people in the United States. If you’re one of the several experiencing pain when walking, it’s important that you seek treatment from a licensed medical care provider. Treatment can make getting pain relief possible and can even help ward off recurring ankle pain if you and your health care provider can accurately identify the source of your pain. 

What are some of the causes of ankle pain when walking?

The course of your treatment can vary depending on the cause. Four common causes of ankle pain are: 

• Achilles tendinitis — Achilles tendinitis is a condition that involves the inflammation of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon connects muscles to the bone at the back of your ankle, where your heel and calf muscle meet. This tendon can become inflamed from sudden or repetitive movements. Walking can worsen the tendon's inflammation and cause swelling and pain. 
   
• Bursitis — Bursitis is another condition that can cause ankle pain and make walking feel uncomfortable. Bursitis is characterized by inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs in the joints that protect your bones. It’s usually caused by overuse or repetitive movements or pressure. Bursitis in the ankle joints can make walking feel painful.
   
• Fractured ankle — A broken or fractured ankle bone can lead to pain when walking. Fractured ankles can occur as a result of a stress fracture that went untreated or the result of a traumatic break. It’s important to seek treatment for a fractured ankle to ensure that it heals correctly and that you don’t have any problems walking in the future.
   
• Osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis is a condition that involves the degeneration of the joints over time. It can affect the joints in the hands, feet and even the ankles. If you’re dealing with osteoarthritis, your arthritic joints can make it difficult to walk without pain.

When should you see a professional for ankle pain that occurs when walking?

If you’re experiencing persistent pain when walking, consulting with a medical professional, like a physical therapist, early on is a good idea to avoid worsening your condition. A physical therapist can help identify the cause of your pain and develop a unique treatment plan for it. They’ll guide you through each session so you can walk away from your treatment with less pain and the tools you need to prevent it from recurring. 

How can physical therapy help your ankle pain when walking?

Physical therapy is a treatment method that can help if you’re experiencing ankle pain when walking. Here are a few ways that PT can benefit you:
 

• Improve range of motion — Your physical therapist can show you how to perform a series of intentionally chosen ankle exercises to help improve your range of motion and move your ankles with less pain.
   
• Reduce pain and inflammation — Manual muscle and joint manipulation can help you with your ankle pain by decreasing tension and inflammation in the muscles and around the joints. Physical therapists can also teach you how to manually manipulate your muscles at home to reduce pain and inflammation in the affected ankle. 
   
• Help prevent future injury — In physical therapy, you can perform exercises to strengthen your ankles, and your therapist can discuss with you how you can avoid ankle pain in the future. 

Alliance PTP can help find expert physical therapists near you to address your ankle pain that flares up when you’re walking

You probably don’t have to go as far as you think to get help with the ankle pain you experience when walking. After all, Alliance Physical Therapy Partners has practices across the country where you can find the physical therapy you need. 
 

And if your ankle pain is preventing you from getting to a PT clinic, don’t worry! We also offer highly effective and affordable virtual care in nearly every U.S. state. 

So, don’t keep letting your symptoms affect your day-to-day life. Get in touch with our team today so we can help you find the physical therapy that’s right for you.