As we age, circulation suffers, especially circulation to the extremities, such as our ankles and feet. There are also a variety of foot conditions which can lead to swollen ankles late in the day. Don’t take it personally. No one is out to get you, or your feet. Everyone ages, and usually suffers from decreased circulation as a result.
If you experience swollen ankles occasionally, for example following a long airline flight, you probably have nothing to worry about, as this is fairly normal. If, on the other hand, you regularly experience swollen ankles at the end of a normal work day, you may be suffering from one of the many conditions which can cause swollen ankles. Painless swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem, especially among older people but, at the Foot & Ankle Center of Washington we can usually figure out what might be causing your swollen ankles by performing a simple exam.
While swollen ankles aren’t always a cause for concern, it can sometimes indicate a more serious condition. Some common causes of swollen feet include (but are not limited to): stress fracture, gout, sprain, infection, allergy, rheumatoid arthritis, vascular disease, pregnancy, water retention, and obesity.
In other words, chronically swollen ankles may be a cause for concern. If you regularly experience swollen ankles late in the day, a great solution for you might be compression socks, which are available for both men and women, or compression hosiery for women.
In fact, at the Foot & Ankle Center of Washington we believe that virtually everyone would benefit from compression socks, since the benefits far exceed any other issues.
For more information on the causes and treatment options for swollen ankles, visit our Swollen Foot/Ankle Page. To see the variety of stylish compression socks we offer, visit our Foot & Ankle Store. To determine of you have a more serious problem which is causing your swollen ankles; make an appointment to see us in our Seattle office as soon as possible.
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