Our ankles and feet are just as important as any other part of the body. This is because they allow us to move around conveniently and comfortably. In addition, they are frequently used organs, and while walking our feet and ankles must support our body weight in various movements. As a result, there is a large number of patients with ankle and foot problems each year.
Ankle and foot pain have the following causes and symptoms:
- A twisted or sprained ankle is a condition that can occur at any time when we perform various activities and is very common among athletes. Otherwise, even wearing high heels can be a factor that increases the risk of a spraining an ankle. The cause of a sprained or twisted foot is torn ligaments and tissues around the ankle. The tear may be only partial or complete, thus leading to an unstable ankle. The patient will experience swelling and pain in the ankle area or bruising patterns around the ankle caused by the tearing of blood vessels. You should apply ice to your ankle immediately after an accident to help reduce inflammation. However, do not massage or otherwise treat it if it has not been diagnosed. When you see a doctor, the doctor will review your history and perform a physical examination, especially in an area where there is pain. Radiological testing may also be done to make sure there are no broken bones. This condition takes approximately 6-8 weeks to heal, but the swelling will go away first, and the doctor will instruct you to rest your foot as much rest as possible and may require you to wear a cast or a bandage to reduce swelling or a cane to support your weight. When symptoms improve, start exercising by moving your ankle in every direction, such as by turning your foot inward, wiggling your foot, stretching your foot, and exercising the muscles around your ankle, especially the muscles used to wiggle your foot. The important thing about the exercise is that it must not cause pain in the joints.
- Achilles tendinitis. Often, this occurs with sports that require heavy use of the calf muscles, such as basketball and high jumping; pain will usually be present in the Achilles tendons in these cases. With this condition, the patient experiences pain in the Achilles tendon during exercise, and the pain will increase when you stop exercising. When the Achilles tendon is pressed, pain will occur. Otherwise, when examining the shoes, unusual wear marks will be found. First aid for this condition is to stop exercising immediately. When the injury has happened, apply ice for 20 minutes every 4 hours. Wear shoes with raised heels to relieve pressure on the Achilles tendon, and use a bandage to elevate the foot. However, do not wear flat-soled shoes and avoid walking barefoot.
- Plantar fasciitis. Due to incorrect exercise. The patient will have pain in the soles of the feet in the morning. It would start with slight pain in the soles of the feet, which first become painful after exercising. Later, there will be pain when walking right after waking up, and this pain will get better as time passes. During a physical examination, it would be found that if pressure is placed on the heel bone, there would be pain. If not treated, the condition may affect the ankles, knees, or back, which causes abnormal walking. When you have pain, rest from heavy use. In addition, try to lose weight until pain symptoms improve and apply ice for 20 minutes daily for 3 times a day to reduce inflammation. Also wear shoes with cushioning for impacts. In most cases, patients experience improvements within 2-3 months.
Preventing Injuries to the Feet and Ankles
Try to warm up before every exercise. Observe your body. If you have pain in your ankles or the soles of your feet, stop running. Find and wear appropriate protective equipment for your sport, and choose shoes and socks appropriately. However, in addition to the reasons mentioned above, ankle pain can occur in people of very old age or there can be problems related to bone deterioration, especially in people who have been deficient in calcium since childhood and adolescence, who are more likely to develop bone problems after growing older.
