Swollen ankles after running

[Sandokan32]

A month ago I realized I was getting severely overweight. I was 6'1 at 255 pounds, and realized that with my lifestyle at the moment, I was on my way to morbid obesity.

I set a goal of dropping to 200, and started jogging in the mornings, 4 times a week before work. And after roadwork, some weight lifting.
I was starting to feel proud of myself after the 2nd week. I can run 4-5 miles without breathing hard. Quite an acomplishment for a guy who has been quite chubby most of his life.

My last run was on friday. 2 days after, while showering, i noticed my ankes were swollen. Didn`t hurt, but sure I was worried.

Reading some articles on the internet, i realized that my running technique was awful, and a probable cause of my swelling. When running, I landed on the backfoot, putting great stress that area of my foot and other joints.
I`m mentally ready for running again with a new technique, landing on the forefoot. I know my calves will be sore the first runs, though.

Should I start imediately or wait for my ankles to recover?

[lonewolf210]

well with the current style of shoes the proper form is to land on the heel of your foot that is how the shoe constructed. Swollen ankles are more likely to come from pronation or supanation( not sure about the spellings), which is essentially rolling to either the outside or inside of your foot. If you want to get rid of the swelling my recommendation would be to go to a running specific store and get analyzed. Despite what most people think their is a huge difference in the way running shoes are constructed besides just the cushioning and improper shoes are usually the reason people end up with shin splints and other leg injuries. A proper shoe will do worlds for your body.

[Jack Johnson]

Go to a physio therapist mate.

[Jerry]

The running store advice is good. Take your old shoes to the store, they can tell where your foot is striking based on the wear and tear, and they will recommend a shoe with support in the right places.

Of course I'm a 350 pound runner, I strike on the outside and roll to the inside but I still prefer a neutral shoe. Never had sore knees or ankles from running, get them from standing a long time though. Your problems could come from having the opposite type of shoe that you need. If you don't like the feel of the support, give neutral a try. Running shoes do not need to be broken in to feel comfortable, they need to be broken in a little for added comfort but they should feel right in the store..in my opinion.

[joakim]

hey
As a physioterapist i would recommend you to take some days of before you run again. Do some less active exercises with your body,like swimming or cycling. I cant see you so its hard to say whats the cause but it might be that your legs muscles isnt good enough to pump the venous blood back to your heart as fast as possible. But dont sit still,keep beeing active and eat healthy. 70% of a weightloss is the food you put into your mouth.
Good luck