It’s best to pay attention to your body’s red flags, no matter how ignorable the pain might be. For example, ignoring the pain in your ankles can be more than just regular muscle soreness after a long day’s commute. It can be a gradual development of ankle tendonitis that can get worse over time without the appropriate medical attention.
What is ankle tendonitis?
Your ankle has several tendons besides the more prominently known Achilles tendon. Together with the Achilles tendon, the finger and ankle extenders and flexor are all prone to damage over time due to gradual overuse or sudden physical trauma. The main symptoms of ankle tendonitis include chronic pain, difficulty moving the ankle joint and a noticeable swelling or inflammation.
Is ankle tendonitis preventable?
Ankle tendonitis is not an uncommon injury. You don’t need to play physically demanding sports to damage your ankles. People going about their day-to-day tasks can end up in accidents that will gradually expose their weak tendons. As you get older, your body will be more prone to physical stress and trauma. This is why bone and muscle recovery is much longer for adults than for teenagers and adolescents.
You can prevent the risk of dealing with tendonitis by gradually building your body’s strength to handle stress. Athletes need to take appropriate warm-up exercises and workout routines to maintain their body’s agility and mobility. You can also do the same by avoiding long periods of idleness and performing low-intensity exercises to prevent the sudden stress that your ankles can endure.
How do I confirm if I have ankle tendonitis?
Ankle tendonitis is not a complicated ailment, which is why it’s easily diagnosed by asking a patient about the symptoms they experience. However, if your condition doesn’t improve after a few months, you may require further examination to investigate the full extent of your body’s source of pain. If you heard a popping sound due to your ankle injury, you might be experiencing pain from a ruptured tendon instead. In this case, it’s best to seek out a doctor immediately to get a treatment and recovery plan as soon as possible.
What’s the treatment for ankle tendonitis?
Before you have a confirmation that you have ankle tendonitis, you can apply a cold compress on your ankle while allowing it to be in an elevated position. After a few days of this self-care treatment, your ankle should have reduced pain and swelling, allowing you to move your joint bit by bit. Since it’s unavoidable to use your injured feet to go from one place to another, you can purchase OTC painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication to speed up your recovery.
If the DIY remedy doesn’t work, you can consult with a physiotherapist that will prescribe different treatment options to speed up your recovery. Besides stretching exercises, you may require modern solutions such as anti-inflammatory antibiotics or shockwave therapy to cure your tendon’s injury.
Conclusion
Many people avoid going to a doctor, primarily because of the perceived expensive check-up and treatment fees. However, you will only give yourself more pain and more costly medical bills if you allow minor conditions to deteriorate due to negligence. This is why it’s necessary to seek the right specialist to handle your specific illness. For muscle pain involving the musculoskeletal system, it’s best to consult a physiotherapist to receive a professional diagnosis and treatment.
Dealing with injuries to your lower body can be detrimental to your health, damaging your ability to be mobile to do your daily tasks. At Anytime Physio, we offer cost-effective physiotherapy with the help of our experts who are dedicated to your recovery. If you need Brisbane-based physiotherapy services for your ankle pains, schedule an appointment with us today!
