How can physical therapists help if my ankle hurts when I wake up?

You just woke up and you’re getting ready to put your feet on the floor and start your day … only to realize that your ankle hurts. So you rotate your foot a few times, thinking that you just need to loosen up the joint, but it doesn’t seem to help. What should you do? Consider seeing a physical therapist if your ankle is hurting when you wake up in the morning. 

Why is my ankle hurting? 

Do you pride yourself on being a morning person, who is all get up and go? Or, are you more of a roll-out-of-bed-and-stumble-around-until-you-find-the-coffee kind of morning person? Either way, waking up with ankle pain in the morning can put a damper on your day. Here are five reasons why you may be experiencing ankle pain first thing in the morning: 

• Plantar fasciitis.
• Bone spurs.
• Flat feet (fallen arches).
• Arthritis.
• Shoes that don’t fit properly.

Physical therapy to help ankle pain 

You’re not sure what the issue is, but you know that you don’t want to deal with ankle pain first thing in the morning. That’s where seeking helping from a physical therapist comes in. Your physical therapist will perform an evaluation to determine the source of your pain. Once they have an understanding of why your ankle hurts when you wake up, they can work with you to create a customized treatment plan. Your treatment may include:

• Ankle stretch — The purpose of this exercise is to increase your ankle’s flexibility with the goal of decreasing any sharp pain you may experience. Stand in front of a wall and place your foot on the wall, leaving your heel on the floor. Gently lean into the stretch.
• Calf stretch — This exercise is performed with the goal to increase your calf flexibility, while decreasing sharp pain in your ankle. While standing in front of a wall, place one foot in front of the other with the front knee slightly bent and the back knee straight. With your back heel firmly planted, lean toward the wall.
• ABC exercise — The point of this exercise is to improve overall ankle mobility. Start by pointing your toe and begin tracing the alphabet.

If you’re tired of experiencing ankle pain when you wake up, try physical therapy at Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy. Don’t live with ankle pain any longer than you have to. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.