A rolled ankle at footy, pain that flares when you walk or run, swelling and stiffness that will not settle, or an ankle you just do not trust on uneven ground. Every presentation of ankle pain is different, which is why every assessment begins with understanding the structures involved and the factors contributing to your symptoms. From there, we develop an individualised management plan that may include hands-on treatment, rehabilitation and a progressive return to everyday activities or sport.
Ankle pain can involve ligaments, tendons, bone or the joint itself, and some injuries need different management from others. An assessment helps work out what is involved and what your next step could be.
Your care starts with understanding you, your symptoms and the factors that may be contributing to them. From there, we develop an individualised management plan based on your assessment, needs and goals.
We commonly see people whose ankle pain has persisted following a previous sprain. While the injured tissues may have healed, ongoing strength, balance and movement deficits can remain. Rehabilitation aims to address these factors and support a safe return to everyday activities and sport. Hands-on treatment from our osteopaths, myotherapists and remedial massage therapists may form part of your care, with dry needling where clinically appropriate.
The injury or symptoms, the structures involved, how the ankle moves and loads, and the demands of your work, training or sport.
Hands-on treatment, load management and advice that may assist your symptoms, with clear guidance on what to do in the early stages.
A progressive strength, balance and movement program for the ankle, calf and hip, tracked objectively with VALD strength testing where useful.
A graded return to walking, running, the gym or sport, with checkpoints based on your symptoms, strength, balance and confidence.
We do not jump straight to treatment. Care begins by understanding you and the factors contributing to your symptoms, so the management plan we build together is individual to you.
We start with a conversation about your ankle injury or symptoms, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you want to get back to doing.
A movement and physical assessment to understand which structures are involved and the factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
We explain what we found and build an individualised plan. Where appropriate, hands-on treatment may begin in the first appointment.
Clear guidance on rehabilitation, activity and follow-up, and referral for imaging or to another practitioner where that is the right call.
These are some of the more common reasons people see us with ankle pain. Each is managed differently, which is why assessment comes first.
An injury that occurs when the ankle rolls, twists or turns awkwardly, most often involving the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. Sprains range in severity, and early assessment helps guide appropriate management.
An ankle that keeps rolling, or feels unstable, often has strength, balance and movement deficits left over from an earlier injury. These can be assessed and addressed through rehabilitation.
A sprain of the ligaments joining the two shin bones just above the ankle, usually from a twisting injury in sport. These often need a different plan and timeline from a standard sprain.
Pain and stiffness in the tendon above the heel, often with running or jumping. Tendons generally respond to an appropriate, progressive loading program rather than complete rest.
Pain under the heel, often most noticeable with the first steps in the morning. Assessment helps determine what is contributing and guides an appropriate management plan.
Significant pain, swelling, inability to weight bear or bony tenderness after an injury may need imaging. We assess carefully and refer promptly where that is the right call.
Looking for an ankle pain osteopath? Our osteopaths commonly manage ankle injuries and return to sport, and people come to us for ankle pain treatment from across Melbourne’s south east. Dr Tully Loomes (Osteopath) has a particular interest in sporting injuries and rehabilitation.
For people wanting to return to running, the gym or sport, rehabilitation is where most of the work happens. Your program is tailored to your injury, your goals and the demands of your activity, progressing from early loading through strength and balance work to sport-specific movement.
Where appropriate, we use VALD strength testing to objectively measure strength, compare differences between sides and monitor progress over time. This information can help inform exercise progression and return-to-sport decisions alongside your clinical assessment.
A little background on how the ankle is put together can help make sense of your symptoms. Open any section below to read more.
The ankle is formed by three bones: the tibia (shin bone), the fibula (the thinner bone beside it) and the talus, a foot bone that sits beneath them. The joint allows the foot to move up and down, while the joint below it allows the side-to-side movement that helps you cope with uneven ground.
Ligaments connect bone to bone and stabilise the joint. The three ligaments on the outside of the ankle, the anterior talofibular (ATFL), calcaneofibular (CFL) and posterior talofibular (PTFL), are the ones most commonly injured in a rolled ankle. The deltoid ligament on the inside of the ankle is stronger and injured less often. Above the ankle, the syndesmosis ligaments join the tibia and fibula together.
The calf muscles attach to the heel through the Achilles tendon and power push-off in walking and running. The peroneal tendons on the outside of the ankle help control side-to-side movement and are often involved in ankle stability. Strength and control in these muscles is a central part of ankle rehabilitation.
Book an appointment at our Wheelers Hill clinic, near Glen Waverley. We’ll take the time to understand your concerns, assess what may be contributing to your symptoms and tailor your care to your individual needs and goals.
