Even the healthiest of individuals deal with joint deterioration as they get older. It’s a natural part of life, especially in active individuals who put stress on their joints each and every day. As our joints start to show the signs of wear and tear over decades of use, they can start to experience some uncomfortable symptoms, with one of the more common being stiffness. If this stiffness develops in your ankles, not only can it be uncomfortable, it can be downright dangerous if it inhibits your balance.
With that in mind, we wanted to use today’s blog to talk a little more about stiffness in the ankle joint and how you can best treat it.
What Causes Ankle Joint Stiffness?
Ankle joint stiffness can be caused by any number of issues, but in an aging population, the most common cause is the onset of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition in which the joint can no longer function ideally as a result of degenerative changes, like cartilage loss, the development of bone spurs or issues with the synovial fluid that helps lubricate the joint. When degenerative changes lead to these issues, your ankle’s range of motion can become limited or you can suffer from ankle stiffness.
Aside from the onset of arthritis, ankle stiffness can also develop after acute trauma to the area. When trauma strikes an area, your body produces an inflammatory reaction to help bring fluids and limit movement in the injured area. This swelling can serve to make your ankle feel stiff, and it can actually inhibit normal healing if blood can’t easily flow in and out of the area. This is why it’s so important to work to limit swelling in the ankle after an injury, and it will also help to prevent ankle stiffness.
Treating Ankle Stiffness
Treating ankle stiffness will depend on the root cause of your stiffness, which is why it is often advised to consult with a specialist if you feel like your ankle is chronically stiff. They’ll conduct a physical exam, ask you about your symptoms and may even try to pinpoint the source of the issue with the help of imaging tests. Once they have a diagnosis, they’ll be able to walk you through some individualized treatment options, which typically include:
Controlled Exercise – Movement will help to strengthen the joint, but you want to be careful about overdoing it, so consider some lower-impact exercises.
Physical Therapy – PT is one of the best things you can do to treat stiff ankles, as targeted therapy will help slowly expand your flexibility and decrease localized stiffness.
Medications – Medications can help to calm inflammation that may be contributing to ankle stiffness.
Weight Loss – Weight loss can also help to take pressure off the joint, which can in turn help to alleviate some of the stiffness you may be experiencing.