I Keep Getting Pain on the Inside of My Ankle When I Run

Pain on the inside of your ankle that keeps showing up when you run often starts as your foot pushes off the ground, when repeated stress leaves the area sore, tight, and harder to move comfortably.

You may feel fine when you first start running, then notice pain on the inside of your ankle as your stride settles in. It might feel like a sore spot, a pulling sensation, or a sharp grab that shows up every time you push off and put weight through that side of your foot.

The pain can be especially frustrating when it eases after you stop, only to come back on your next run. When the area keeps getting stressed before it has a chance to settle down, stiffness and soreness can carry over from one workout to the next and make the same part of your ankle start hurting sooner.

The Pain Hits As You Push Off The Ground

You may feel the inside of your ankle grab or pull right as your foot leaves the ground.

Every step of running asks your ankle to move from landing to push-off, and that repeated motion can make an already sore area hurt over and over again. The posterior tibial tendon, which runs along the inside of your ankle, can become especially sensitive when repeated running keeps asking it to work before it has recovered.

Your Inner Ankle Starts Hurting More As The Run Goes On

The pain may begin as a mild ache and become more noticeable as you keep running.

You might get through the first part of your run without much trouble, then start noticing that the inside of your ankle feels tighter or more painful with each mile. As the area gets tired, your stride may start feeling less comfortable, and repeated steps can keep aggravating the same sore spot instead of giving it a break.

Why Your Ankle Pain Keeps Returning

Your ankle has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and repeated irritation.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your ankle feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Ankle Feel Better

Your ankle starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does the inside of my ankle hurt when I run?

Pain on the inside of your ankle during running can happen when repeated push-off keeps stressing a sore or tight area. You may notice the pain more as your run gets longer or your ankle becomes tired.

Why does my inner ankle pain come back every time I run?

If the area is still recovering between runs, each new workout can bring the same pain back. You may feel better after resting, but the repeated motion of running can make the soreness return once you start again.

Why does my ankle hurt more later in my run?

The inside of your ankle may start hurting more as fatigue builds and the same movement is repeated thousands of times. What begins as a small ache can become more noticeable as the area gets tired.

Can tightness make the inside of my ankle hurt when I run?

Yes. If your ankle or calf feels tight, your stride can feel less comfortable and the inside of your ankle may start pulling or hurting during repeated push-off.

Should I keep running through pain on the inside of my ankle?

If the pain keeps returning, becomes sharp, or gets worse as you run, continuing to push through it can keep stressing the area. Persistent or worsening pain should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.