General Information
Resources for your Ankle (alternatively visit our Foot or Thigh/Leg/Calf resource pages)
Many of us will experience ankle pain at some point. Although it can be painful, it very rarely due to a serious cause.
What causes ankle pain?
- Due to an injury or fall (e.g. injury to muscles, bones, tendons)
- Ligaments sprains / ruptures
- Muscle weakness secondary to pain
- Achilles tendon pain / rupture
- Repetitive, new and/or reduced activities
- Muscle weakness secondary to pain
- Other conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia
- Factors such as poor sleep, stress or anxiety, feeling run down, obesity or smoking
What are the symptoms?
You may experience constant or intermittent (comes and goes) symptoms that are aggravated by certain activities and reduced by others. They may include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Reduced range of ankle movements
- Stiffness
- Feeling of weakness
- Feeling of instability
Self Help
Ankle pain will normally recovers within 6-8 weeks without any medical intervention. Try some of these self-help measures to aid your recovery:
- A short period of rest (48 hours), foot elevation and ice therapy may be enough to ease your symptoms of pain and swelling
- Try a short course of simple pain medication as advised by your pharmacist
- For the first few days after the onset of pain, changing or reducing your usual activities may help, but gradually returning to all your usual activities and exercise is important to help your recovery
- Wearing appropriate footwear e.g. trainers, to provide support for the foot bones and shock absorption through the shoe's thick soles, may ease your symptoms significantly
- Stay at work or return to work if possible
- Good sleep habits and managing stress can help you cope better with your pain
- Try some of the exercises on these pages, and build up gradually
Should I refer myself to Physiotherapy?
If you have tried the self-help measures on these pages and the symptoms have not settled, you can self-refer to MSK Physiotherapy if you live in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.
For more information on how to self-refer to MSK Physiotherapy visit our Service Page.
When should I seek urgent medical advice?
Call 111 for advice or visit your local Walk-In Centre if you have any of the following:
- your ankle is hot, red, swollen and you have a high temperature
- after a fall or significant injury to your ankle
- unable to weight bear
- an open wound to the ankle and you are concerned
Call your GP if:
- symptoms are not easing after a period of rest, elevation , use of pain relief and use of ice
Useful websites and resources
General Ankle Advice and Exercises
Other Useful Advice or Information
Alternatively visit our Foot or Thigh/Leg/Calf resource pages.
Urgent / Out of Hours Health Care
If in doubt which service is best for you, call 111 for advice or visit LLR ICB Urgent Health Care for more information.
Back to MSK Service Page
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