Reduced movement in the ankle joint
Do you find it harder to bend your ankle when walking, squatting or climbing stairs? Or do you notice that rolling your foot forward is less smooth? If so, you may have reduced mobility in your ankle joint.
When an ankle is not moving as well as it should, your body often adapts by moving differently. This can also lead to problems in your foot, knee, hip or back.
What is it?
Reduced movement in the ankle joint means that you are less able to lift your foot. As a result, the roll of the foot whilst walking is less smooth.
Your body will often compensate for this by using other muscles or joints more. This can also lead to symptoms in, for example, the foot, knee, hip or back.
Causes
Reduced movement in the ankle joint can have various causes. For example:
- shortened calf muscles;
- stiffness following an injury;
- a previous operation;
- osteoarthritis;
- scar tissue;
- pinching at the front of the ankle.
What do you notice?
The symptoms are not always confined to the ankle. As your body starts to move differently, you may also experience symptoms in other areas.
You may, for example, notice that:
- crouching or bending deeply at the knees is difficult;
- climbing stairs or walking up a hill causes pain or stiffness;
- the ankle feels painful or stiff;
- it is less easy to manage whilst walking;
- if you experience a tight sensation in your ankle;
- you also experience pain in your knee, hip or back.
The impact of a healthy lifestyle and your mental health
Regular exercise within your capabilities helps to keep muscles and joints active. Exercises, a gradual build-up of intensity and a healthy body weight can also help to reduce the strain on the ankle.
Mental health also plays a role. Pain, uncertainty or anxiety about putting weight on your ankle can lead to you moving less. As a result, muscles can become stiffer or weaker, and symptoms may persist for longer.
Our lifestyle coaches can support you with changes that suit your situation. When symptoms affect your daily activities, our occupational therapists thinking alongside you.
What can you do yourself?
You can help alleviate your symptoms yourself. It is good to keep your ankle moving, but do not force movement if this causes sharp pain.
For example, you can:
- keep exercising regularly within your capabilities;
- do stretching exercises if these are suitable for your situation;
- wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in and provide good support;
- adapting activities if mobility is reduced;
- gradually build up your exercise;
- Please get in touch if your symptoms worsen or persist.
Advice and treatment
Our podiatrists We will investigate the causes of the restricted movement in your ankle. Among other things, we will examine the joint’s range of motion, the muscles, the position of your foot and your gait.
Treatment may consist of:
- advice on shoes;
- podiatry insoles to support the foot’s roll and improve the alignment of your foot;
- temporary relief for the ankle;
- advice on exercises and physical activity;
- collaboration with a physiotherapist or podomanual therapist.
When the cause of the limitation is osteoarthritis or changes in the ankle joint, we cannot always improve mobility. However, we can often help to distribute the load more evenly and make movement more comfortable.
