Understanding ankle pain and how foot support can help
Ankle pain can be frustrating and tiresome, especially if you have to spend a lot of time on your feet. There are many different causes of ankle pain, from sprains to arthritis, but did you know that some can be connected to your feet? Discover how the right foot support can help alleviate some types of ankle pain.
Common types of ankle pain
Many typical ankle problems are caused by injuries, such as a trip, fall or wrench. They can also be caused by a flare up of an existing problem, such as arthritis, or by muscle weakness around the joint.
If you’re experiencing ankle pain and you don’t know why, it’s a good idea to visit your GP or a medical professional to see if you can determine the reason. Most acute injuries should resolve on their own within six weeks, according to the NHS. However, some ankle pain can be caused by things like overuse and a lack of support.
Relieving ankle pain caused by overuse
When ankle pain has been caused by overuse, there are a few things you can do to help ease your discomfort. Whether you’ve been running long distances or simply spent a night out in unsupportive high heels, you may find that your ankles are tender and swollen. Ways to help alleviate this pain include:
- Resting and raising your ankle when you can
- Applying ice packs (or bags of frozen peas). Wrap in a towel and then apply to your ankle for up to twenty minutes every few hours or so.
- Use over the counter painkillers or ibuprofen gel as appropriate
- Avoid spending too much time on your feet
- Skip high heels or tight, pointy footwear, according to the NHS
Ways to protect feet and ankles
Whether you spend a lot of time on your feet at work or you tend to enjoy high impact sports, there are a few things you can do to help protect your feet and ankles every day. These include:
- Avoiding exercising on hard floors and surfaces
- Choosing well fitting and supportive shoes
- Try gentle stretches to warm up and cool down
- Use supportive insoles in your shoes
The benefits of supporting your feet and ankles
Our feet carry up to 500 tons of pressure throughout the day and when we spend a lot of time standing, walking or running, this pressure can add up. What’s more, when this weight isn't spread evenly, it can lead to painful high-pressure areas which can contribute to ailments like ankle pain.
Giving your feet adequate support can provide pressure relief and insoles and orthotics are a great way to do this.
This is important because misalignment of your foot position can lead to unnatural walking motions. These motions can cause stress to your feet, which can sometimes move up your body and result in pain in the joints in your legs, your hips and back. The right insoles help to stabilise the position of your feet to support your natural walking style while reducing misalignment.
How to support your feet
Choosing well-fitting shoes is a top priority. Podiatrists recommend making sure that your shoes are properly fitted, to ensure that they’re giving your feet the support they need. Picking supportive insoles is another way to offer support and reduce misalignment when walking.
When choosing an insole to help reduce ankle pain, it’s essential to make sure the product fits well in the shoe. Choose the size closest to your shoe size and have your feet measured if you’re not sure.
If there’s not enough space in this shoe to insert a pain-relieving insole, you might want to consider removing the existing insole. It’s also worth bearing in mind that for some people, pain relief insoles may take time to feel comfortable. Your feet might need to get used to the structural properties of the insole and a ‘breaking in’ period may be necessary. Once this period had passed, it should be possible to wear the insoles comfortably.
Heel and Ankle Support insoles
Our Heel & Ankle Relief Insole is designed to provide flexible support while raising the heel to redistribute pressure and shock absorption, relieve heel pain and protect the angled heel position. These In-Balance orthotics are shaped to your feet to provide clinically proven pressure relief. They also provide extra stabilisation, helping to support your natural walking style and reduce pressure on your other joints, including your ankles, knees and hips. It’s important to make sure your insoles fit your shoes, which is why we offer both large, medium and small Ankle & Heel Relief Insoles.
At Scholl, you’ll find a wide range of insoles in a variety of sizes, offering comfort and support for feet and ankles. See if you could make your everyday a little more comfortable, with our insoles and orthotics.
