Many aerobic activities use the joints in your legs, like the ankle. Your ankle consists of three bones: the tibia, fibula and talus. Your ankle bones are held in place by a series of ligaments, while articular cartilage keeps the bones from rubbing. Muscles and tendons work together to allow ankle movements. Injuries to tendons, ligaments or bones as well as arthritis can lead to pain in your joint.
Causes of Lateral Ankle Pain
The lateral, or outside, part of your ankle is often injured due to a sprain. Sprains occur when you "roll" your ankle. In the case of lateral pain, the outside ankle bone rolls toward the ground and can lead to pain in that area. When you sprain your ankle, the ligament between the bones is often stretched or torn. If not given time to heal and strengthen through rehabilitation, that ligament or the surrounding muscles become weak, resulting in instability and increased proneness to injury. Nerve damage, arthritis and a break or fracture of one of your ankle bones can also result in lateral ankle pain.
Peroneal Tendon
During exercise, particularly aerobic activities like running or walking, your ankles are a crucial part of your locomotion. Muscles work to move your legs and feet as tendons attach muscles to bones in your joints. The peroneal tendon runs around the back of your lateral malleolus, or outer ankle bone, and attaches to the bottom of your foot. You use this tendon to point your toe down, bring the outside of your foot up and push off the ground when you walk. An injury to this tendon through overuse or trauma can result in pain during exercise.
Fractures
Pain around the outside of your ankle can also stem from fractures in the bones in your ankle joint. Fractures are technically breaks in bone and commonly occur in ankles. Stress fractures are small cracks that after excessive use, weight or force is placed on the bone. You feel pain when weight is placed on the joint and you may see swelling or bruising. Avulsion fractures occur when a ligament or tendon pulls away a piece of bone. Avulsion fractures can occur anywhere; however, ankles are the most common place to experience this injury.
Other Causes
Your ankle pain may also come from more serious conditions like arthritis. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, begins when your joint's cartilage wears down enough to allow your bones to rub together. Pain, swelling or stiffness can make exercise difficult.
Treatment
Talk to your doctor about your lateral ankle pain. Treatment for minor ankle pain includes rest, ice, elevation and therapeutic exercise. If your ankle is swollen, your doctor may recommend a compression wrap or brace. More serious injuries, like breaks and fractures, or arthritis may require additional care. When pain is aggravated by a particular type of exercise, stop the exercise or reduce your intensity. Avoid lateral or agility movements until your doctor gives permission or pain is alleviated.
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