Aching Ankles From Basketball
Achiness in the ankles while playing basketball can occur abruptly from a sudden injury or develop gradually over time, and it can result from a variety of conditions and errors. Ankle achiness may not only affect the way that you play basketball, it can halt your game prematurely and dissuade you from future play.
Possible Causes
You can experience aching ankles while playing basketball if you do not warm up or fail to wear supportive shoes. Basketball requires frequent lateral movements that can strain your ankles, particularly when you defend the ball, forcing you to stop quickly, plant your foot and move rapidly in the opposite direction. In addition, landing wrong after jumping or twisting your body can cause a sprain, ruptured tendon, muscle pull, torn ligament or even a broken ankle. Excessive practice or play can also stress the ankles and result in conditions such as Achilles tendinitis or plantar fasciitis. Outdoor asphalt courts do not provide adequate shock absorption and can place extreme stress on the ankles, resulting in pain.
Treatment Options
Rest your ankles and refrain from playing basketball until the injury heals. Immobilize your ankle by using crutches or a brace if necessary to ease aching and discourage re-injury. Compress your injured ankle and reduce inflammation by applying ice to your ankle for no more than 15 minutes at a time. Prop your foot up to drain fluids away from the injury site, and to reduce pain and swelling. Severe ankle pain requires treatment from a doctor or sports injury therapist who can apply a plaster cast, prescribe medication or surgically repair the injury.
Prevention
Stretch out your ankles with an exercise like ankle circles and warm up with a light activity such as brisk walking before you play basketball. Always wear properly fitting shoes that are designed for basketball, and which provide adequate shock absorption and ankle support. Strengthen the muscles in your upper and lower body by training with weights, your own body weight or an elastic band. Having strong muscles will help decrease the impact of playing basketball, which can help to prevent ankle injuries.
Warnings
Contact a doctor if ankle pain is severe, chronic, accompanied by swelling or you suspect a sprain or fracture. Left untreated, injuries such as a sprain or fracture will cause further damage, instability of the joints in the ankle, severe and chronic pain or even the early onset of conditions such as arthritis. In addition, severe injury can cause scar tissue to build up in the ankle area, resulting in problems with ankle flexibility and range of motion.
References
- The Stretching Institute; Sprained Ankle Treatment and Prevention; Brad Walker
- SportsInjuryClinic.net: Basketball Injuries
- SportsInjuryClinic.net: Sprained Ankle
- SportsInjuryClinic.net: Achilles Tendinitis (Tendinopathy)
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo. Achilles Tendinitis. Reviewed June 2010.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo. Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle. Reviewed March 2015.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo. Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle). Reviewed March 2013.
- Arthritis Foundation. Arthritis and Diseases that Affect the Ankle.
- Robati S, Porter K, Shahid M, Crompton T, Sandiford N. Ankle osteomyelitis: an unusual presentation. JRSM Short Rep. 2013;4(6):35. doi:10.1177/2042533313476682.
- Merck Manual Consumer Version. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Revised March 2018.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. Common peroneal nerve dysfunction. Reviewed August 7, 2017.
- Mascard E, Gaspar N, Brugières L, Glorion C, Pannier S, Gomez-brouchet A. Malignant tumours of the foot and ankle. EFORT Open Rev. 2017;2(5):261-271. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.2.160078
- Tiemstra JD. Update on acute ankle sprains. Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(12):1170-6.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo. Sprained Ankle. Reviewed February 2016.
- Arthritis Foundation. Lab Tests for Diagnosing Ankle Problems.
- Merck Manual. Professional Version. Cellulitis. Reviewed September 2019.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo. Compartment Syndrome. Reviewed October 2009.
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. (n.d.). Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle.
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. (n.d.). Sprained Ankle.
- Koehler SM, Eiff P. (2018). Overview of Ankle Fractures in Adults. Asplund CA, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc.
- Mascard E, Gaspar N, Brugieres L, Glorion C, Pannier S, Gomez-Brouchet A. Malignant tumours of the foot and ankle. EFORT Open Rev. 2017 May;2(5):261-71.
- Robati S, Porter K, Shabid M, Crompton T, Sandiford N. Ankle osteomyelitis: An unusual presentation. JRSM Short Rep. 2013 Jun;4(6):35.
Writer Bio
Rose Erickson has been a professional writer since 2010. She specializes in fitness, parenting, beauty, health, nutrition and saving money, and writes for several online publications including The Krazy Coupon Lady. She is also a novelist and a mother of three.