5 top causes of pain on top of your foot near the ankle

Have you recently noticed a new or worsening pain on the top of your foot, close to your ankle? Is it interfering with your daily activities, like walking to work, putting on your shoes, or even standing up? Your pain may get better some days and flare up on others. These are just a few of the ways that pain on the top of the foot and near the ankle can interrupt your daily routine and cause significant discomfort. 

If this type of pain sounds like something you’ve been dealing with, you can read more about some of the factors that make someone more at risk and some of the most common causes. These risk factors and causes can be addressed during physical therapy, where a physical therapist can determine the root of your pain and how best to address it.

What are some of the factors that may make someone more likely to develop pain in the foot near the ankle?

Did you know that there are factors that can make you more likely to start having pain in your foot around the ankle? Here are just a few of the factors that could put you at a greater risk of developing this type of pain:

• Wearing poorly fitting shoes.
• Having poor circulation.
• Being overweight.
• Walking or standing excessively.

Taking actionable steps to correct or adjust these factors can potentially reduce your foot and ankle pain over time. This is especially true when you work to correct these factors and visit with an experienced physical therapist. Physical therapy can treat a variety of symptoms and conditions.

What are some of the most common causes of pain on the top of the foot near the ankle?

While several risk factors may make a person more susceptible to pain in the foot around the area of the ankle, there are also many conditions that can cause it. Any of the following conditions could cause a person to experience this specific type of pain:

• Plantar fasciitis — Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the band that runs across the bottom of the foot, called the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed. The inflammation of this band can cause sharp, stabbing pain across the bottom of the foot and the heel. Symptoms are significantly worse in the mornings after nights of inactivity. It’s usually caused by frequent overuse and poor foot support.

• Acquired flatfoot — Acquired flatfoot is another condition that causes pain on the top of the foot near the ankle. Flatfoot occurs when the arches in the feet fall and become flat. For those born with raised arches that eventually fall, the ligaments and tendons in the feet can become inflamed and painful around the top of the foot and ankle. 

• Achilles tendinitis — When the Achilles tendon, the tendon located at the base of the calf and the heel, becomes inflamed, it’s referred to as Achilles tendinitis. If you have Achilles tendinitis and subsequently shift your weight when walking to keep from aggravating your Achilles tendon, this can cause pain on the top of the foot and the ankle. 

• Big toe arthritis — Arthritis in the big toe can cause pain at the top of the foot and around the ankle. Walking with a stiff, arthritic big toe joint can cause you to overcompensate in other areas of the foot and even around the ankle. It can aggravate the muscles, ligaments, tendons and even the other joints in the feet.

• Bunions — Bunions are bumps that form at the joint of the big toe bones. They can cause bone deformities and move the toes into abnormal positions, which can then have an effect on the rest of the components in the foot. Bunions are most common among people who wear shoes that are too tight and restrictive.

Peak Performance physical therapists can address the cause of your pain on the top of your foot near your ankle

If you’re in need of a physical therapist who can provide a high-quality level of care for the pain on the top of your foot near your ankle, you need to look no further. Our Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy team comprises a compassionate and experienced group of professionals. We’re dedicated to providing a consistent quality of care to each of our patients across central and eastern North Carolina.

Don’t let pain on the top of your foot near your ankle hinder your daily comfort. Peak Performance physical therapists can treat your painful symptoms. Don’t hesitate any longer and start taking the first steps toward feeling less pain in your foot and ankle.
Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.