Most commonly ankle pain is due to strain of all the tendons and ligaments that hold the ankle joint together. The ankle joint is vital to the walking cycle in that it helps to bring our body weight forward and allow transfer of weight from one limb to the other.

Most ankle pain can be traced to altered alignment due to strain on the tendons and ligaments that hold the joint together.

How do we strain the tendons and ligaments around the ankle?

Most commonly trauma – when one steps off a curb and goes over on the ankle or keeps the ankle in an extreme position all day by wearing heels, the tendons and ligaments that hold the ankle together get strained. This strain leads to inflammation in the area and results in pain. Tendons and ligaments are harder to heal than muscle as they have less blood flow. Depending on severity and cause treatment for isolated ankle pain involves healthlight therapy, stretching and strengthening exercises and possibly custom made foot orthotics.

Knee Pain

There are many possible sources of knee pain – most commonly knee pain is the result of alignment issues of the lower limb.

How does this happen?

During the gait cycle if one is rolling in at the foot level, all the muscles of the foot and ankle extend into the lower leg and cause strain at the insertion point of the muscle in the lower leg.

How does your body react?

Your body will rotate the entire lower limb to alleviate the strain of the musculature. This leads to altered alignment at the knee joint and strain on the tendons and ligaments that work to keep the knee straight.

Beside is a picture of how rolling in (pronating) at the foot level can lead to the entire body compensating during the gait cycle.

Treatment for Knee Pain

For knee pain, the pain is alleviated by realigning the entire lower limb to normalize function. This is done by making a custom made foot orthotic made from plaster casts of the patients’ foot to force the foot to function in its ideal position. By realigning the foot, the knee no longer has to roll inwards or strain the tendons and ligaments to stabilize the body during the walking cycle.

It is important to seek treatment from a licensed foot specialist if you are experiencing ongoing ankle and knee pain.

Visit the Foot and Health Clinic and have our Registered Chiropodist assess your feet. We’re located at 728 Burloak Dr. Burlington, just outside of Oakville. Book an appointment online or call us at 905-632-1414.