What Causes Ankle Pain While Running?
Disease description:
My ankle has been hurting a lot lately while running. At the beginning of each run, I don't feel much pain, but after running for a while, my ankle starts to ache and the pain gradually worsens the longer I run. The pain also persists for quite some time after finishing the run before slowly subsiding. Now I have become somewhat afraid to run—what could be causing this?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Common causes of ankle pain during running include:
1. Improper footwear: Running in improperly fitting shoes, such as shoes that are too small, too large, lack sufficient support, or have poor shock absorption, increases the risk of ankle injuries. Inadequate shoes fail to provide proper support and protection, making ankle sprains or pain more likely.
2. Incorrect running posture: Wrong running posture, such as landing too heavily on the feet, taking excessively long strides, or landing on the toes first, can place extra strain on the ankles and lead to pain. The correct running posture involves landing lightly, maintaining moderate stride length, and landing on the entire sole of the foot.
3. Insufficient warm-up: Failure to perform adequate warm-up exercises before running may leave the ankle joints inadequately prepared, making ankle pain during running more likely.
4. Overuse: Running is a high-impact activity, and suddenly increasing running distance or intensity can overstretch or fatigue the muscles, ligaments, or tendons around the ankle, resulting in pain.
5. Sprains or injuries: While running, especially on uneven surfaces, ankle sprains are common. Mild sprains may involve slight ligament strains, while severe sprains can result in torn ligaments, causing intense pain and swelling.
6. Inflammatory conditions: Conditions such as tendonitis or bursitis can cause inflammation of tissues around the ankle, leading to pain and discomfort.
7. Stress fractures: Prolonged repetitive high-impact activities, such as long-distance running, can cause tiny cracks in the ankle bones, known as stress fractures, which are among the common injuries experienced by runners.
