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My son is a high jumper in high school track and field events. Lately he's been complaining about ankle pain. Can this be caused by the long hours of training and practice?

Running and jumping can lead to the formation of small spikes of bone near the ankle joint. These bone spurs form in the capsule of the joint. They can cause a lot of pain. Any damage from a previous ankle injury can also show up in new ways. For example repeated motions during practice can cause some soft tissues to get pinched if ankle
ligaments were torn in the past.

There are many other possible causes of symptoms in the ankle. Talk to the coach and see what he or she thinks. Perhaps a change in the training schedule is all that's needed. If the symptoms persist, a visit with an orthopedic doctor may be helpful.

Reference: 

Constantinos E. Nikolopoulos, MD, et al. The Accessory Anteroinferior Tibiofibular Ligament as a Cause of Talar Impingement: A Cadaveric Study. In The American Journal of Sports Medicine. March/April 2004. Vol. 32. No. 2. Pp. 389-395.

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