There are several reasons why you may experience soreness in your ankles after a cardio workout. For instance, your footwear may not fit properly. When purchasing exercise footwear, it is wise to shop after a workout or at the end of the day to ensure a comfortable fit after your feet have expanded from heat or exercise. It is also important to try on shoes with the same socks you’ll wear while exercising. Check to make sure that your toes have room to move around and that your heel does not slip out while you are walking. If footwear is not the culprit, it may be Achilles tendinitis. This large tendon connects your heel with your calf muscles and can sometimes suffer from overuse injuries due to high-intensity cardio exercise. Pain from Achilles tendinitis can be felt at the back of the heel and ankle. Or, you may have a compressed posterior tibial nerve that passes through the tarsal tunnel, resulting in tarsal tunnel syndrome. This condition may develop after a sprained ankle, or if you excessively roll your feet inward when you walk or run, known as overpronation. Check with your podiatrist who can determine the cause of your ankle pain after a cardio workout and treat it accordingly.
Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with Ali Davis, DPM from The Foot Clinic. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.
Causes
The most common causes of ankle pain include:
- Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
- Ankle sprains
- Broken ankles
- Achilles tendinitis
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Stress fractures
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis
Symptoms
Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.
Diagnosis
Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.
Treatment
Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Overland Park, KS . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
