Find out about foot and ankle pain
Foot and ankle pain is very common, probably because of all the use our feet get.
Here we take a look at the most common causes and how to treat foot and ankle pain.
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Symptoms of ankle and foot pain
Pain may be felt from the toes of the foot to the heels, or in the ankle joint.
1. Swelling (inflammation), pain and stiffness can occur if the ankle joint is sprained or the joints in the toes become injured.
2. Damage to the foot can cause bruising and redness, which may be painful when pressure is applied.
3. Swelling and pain can make it hard to move the ankle joint freely or put weight on the foot.
How foot and ankle pain can affect you
Most people have experienced foot and ankle pain, making it painful to carry out everyday activities like walking the dog, climbing upstairs, running for the bus and playing sports.
DID YOU KNOW?
68% of people feel pain in their ankles.*
77% of people feel pain in their feet.*
Why do we experience foot and ankle pain?
Foot and ankle pain can be caused by overuse injuries and sprains, as well as plantar fasciitis, caused by damage to the band of tissue that runs under the sole, can cause heel pain. You can also experience foot pain if you wear tight, high-heeled or ill-fitting shoes, while sport injuries can also cause foot or ankle pain.
If you have pain in your heel, it could be an Achilles tendon injury
Stiffness and pain along the back of your heel could be a sign of damage to your Achilles tendon. This is caused by repetitive or intense strain of the tendon that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. The Achilles tendon is used when you walk, run, jump or stand on tip toe so this injury often occurs after you have been playing sports.
Sprains and ankle pain
Sprains are a common cause of ankle pain. They occur when ligaments are stretched, twisted or torn, resulting in a swollen (inflamed) ankle that hurts when you put weight on it.
Expert treatment
Because we use our feet and ankles every day to get around, when they are painful it can be quite unbearable. Often, home remedies can help alleviate pain, such as applying ice to reduce swelling, keeping your foot elevated and using over-the-counter pain medication to reduce pain and inflammation. However, if you have severe pain, swelling, or an open wound, you should see a doctor. It is also important to see a professional if you’re unable to put weight on your foot, making it difficult to walk, have burning pain, numbness, or are diabetic.
Ankle ABC
This simple range of motion stretch helps to
maintain flexibility and mobility in the ankle joint
You should feel this stretch at the top of your foot and in your ankle
- Sit down, making sure that your feet don’t touch the ground
- Leading with your big toe, use your foot to write each letter of the alphabet in the air
- Repeat with your other ankle
- Keep movements small, using just your foot and ankle
- Do this exercise twice a day
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Health, wellness & your pain
Pain is rarely just physical nor is it always solved by taking medicine alone. Voltaren is your ally in helping you take more control of your pain journey, from the way to sleep, to what you eat, mental wellbeing and complementary pain relief therapies.
