Understanding Ankle Injuries and Pain

Ankle injuries and ankle pain are common and can significantly impact walking, balance, exercise, and daily activities. They may occur suddenly, such as with a sprain, fracture, or awkward step or develop gradually due to overuse, repetitive loading, or incomplete recovery from a previous injury.

Because the ankle serves as a primary interface between the ground and the rest of the body, unresolved ankle problems can contribute to ongoing pain, instability, and compensatory stress in the knee, hip, or lower back. Effective care requires more than rest alone. It requires understanding the underlying cause of the pain and restoring the ankle’s ability to tolerate load, adapt to movement, and provide stability during daily and athletic activities.

At ONE80 Health, our focus is on identifying why your ankle is painful or unstable and developing a structured plan to support healing, restore function, and reduce the risk of future injury.

Common Ankle Conditions We See

Ankle pain can present in a variety of ways depending on the tissues involved and the mechanism of injury. Some of the more common ankle-related conditions we assess and treat include:

  • Ankle sprains (lateral, medial, and high ankle sprains)

  • Chronic ankle instability or recurrent episodes of “giving way”

  • Achilles tendon–related ankle pain

  • Peroneal or posterior tibial tendon irritation

  • Ankle stiffness or restricted mobility following injury or immobilization

  • Post-fracture ankle pain and functional limitation

  • Overuse injuries related to walking, running, or sport

  • Degenerative or cartilage-related ankle joint irritation

Many patients present well after the initial injury, often because symptoms improved but strength, mobility, or stability were never fully restored.

Why Ankle Injuries Often Persist

Ankle injuries are frequently underestimated. While swelling and pain may settle within weeks, deficits in joint mobility, muscular strength, balance, and neuromuscular control can remain. Common reasons ankle pain becomes persistent or recurrent include:

  • Incomplete rehabilitation following a sprain or fracture

  • Residual joint stiffness limiting normal movement

  • Weakness of the stabilizing muscles of the foot, ankle, or lower leg

  • Reduced load tolerance of tendons or connective tissue

  • Altered walking or running mechanics due to pain or fear of reinjury

Without addressing these factors, the ankle remains vulnerable to repeated injury and ongoing discomfort.

Evaluation, Management, and When to Seek Support

Evaluation of ankle injuries and ankle pain at ONE80 Health begins with a detailed assessment to identify the structures involved and the factors contributing to your symptoms. This includes reviewing how the injury occurred, assessing joint mobility, tissue sensitivity, strength, balance, and how the ankle functions during walking or activity. Because ankle issues can influence movement patterns throughout the lower body, assessment also considers how the foot, knee, hip, and overall biomechanics may be affecting recovery.

Management focuses on addressing both symptoms and the underlying contributors identified during your evaluation. Care is tailored to your stage of recovery and individual goals, with an emphasis on reducing pain and irritation when present, restoring mobility, improving strength and load tolerance, and enhancing stability and coordination. As symptoms improve, management typically progresses toward guided rehabilitation and a gradual return to walking, exercise, or sport, supported by education to help reduce the risk of reinjury.

Early support is recommended if ankle pain persists beyond a few days, limits weight-bearing, repeatedly returns, or feels unstable during daily activities or exercise. Seeking care sooner rather than later can help prevent prolonged recovery and reduce the likelihood of secondary issues developing in the knee, hip, or lower back. Ongoing or worsening symptoms following an ankle injury should not be ignored, particularly if movement feels restricted or confidence in the ankle has not fully returned.

Treatments That May Help with Ankle Injuries & Pain

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