Overuse of the muscles of the legs and running on uneven surfaces could cause an ankle sprain and calf pain. If someone experiences pain and swollen ankle after running, they need to look at their running practices. Ignoring these symptoms could exacerbate the injuries. These should be tended to and heeded as warnings to improve running practices.
An ankle sprain and calf pain could be prevented by supportive footwear, proper stretching, and running on appropriate surfaces. No preventative measures can guarantee that an injury will not occur, but following a healthy routine of preparing for running and running on even surfaces decreases the risk of injury.
Proper footwear should always be worn when running. A supportive athletic shoe helps prevent injury from running. Not only should the shoe have supportive insoles, but they should not be very old. The insoles of athletic shoes deteriorate over time. Brand new shoes can also be problematic. It is often suggested that brand new shoes be casually worn around the home before worn for intensive running.
When shoes are worn for the first time, the person should check for any friction or rubbing of the shoes. Sometimes, rubbing or tightness may have been overlooked while trying on the shoes before purchase. Wearing them briefly before using them for running can allow the person to monitor the new shoes for any signs of a poor fit before wearing them to run. If someone were to wear shoes that are ill-fitting for a run, the runner is likely to develop blisters.
When preparing to run, the runner should thoroughly, but gently stretch the Achilles tendons and muscles of the legs. Neglecting to stretch can cause injury or soreness of the Achilles tendon or muscles. Stretching calf and Achilles tendon should be part of every runner’s warm up routine.
If a person experiences symptoms such as pain and swollen ankle after running, the runner should stop and rest the injury. Applying ice packs is often recommended. Swollen ankles with persistent pain should be checked by a physician since it could indicate a more severe injury than the person may expect. Pain is a sign that something is wrong. Running through pain can worsen the injury causing the pain. Depending on the cause of the pain, continuing to run could potentially lead to permanent damage.
