Odd Ankle Pains

[TenPointTwo]

I have had ankle problems for a while, but I went on two walks, both fairly long and both I was walking faster than I normally would. The muscle on the outside of my leg just above my ankle felt strained, but if I slowed down it calmed down. The next day, I gradually developed a horrible pain all around my ankle and down my foot. When I walked on it, I got a shooting pain, but there was also a constant aching pain. I went on crutches because walking was not bearable, but any movement of the foot at all made it hurt, almost compairable in pain to what my knee felt when I moved a day after surgery. Icing it didn't help nor did regular pain killers. After a few days the pain went away. Now I am just wondering what that was so I can know how far to go with my exercising - how much strain I should tolerate while I am exercising, what will agrivate my foot to hurt that much again, etc.

[UConnJulie]

What's your flexibility like?

[TenPointTwo]

My flexability is fine.

[John Izzo]

My clients suffer from repeat spasms in the tibialis--which is the muscle in the front of the lower leg when they walk for LONG periods. The pain comes quicker when they walk at a faster pace, which tells me the muscle is overly tight. Julie is right...your flexibility--particularly that muscle--is in question.

Here's what I did with some clients...all women by the way, ages 40-52. I had them walk back wards for 2 minutes around a track as a warm up, then they would walk around the track normally for 10 minutes. Then they would switch back to back wards pace. This helps elongate the tibialis muscle actively, while taking the stress off from the repeated dorsiflexion.
Try stretching that area constantly. try this one.