Clicking or crunching in the ankles or feet can be caused by a number of things.
Most people fear that the clicking is caused by bone hitting bone. However, thankfully nowadays this is rare. If you have this, it is likely that for many years you have been suffering severe pain and weight bearing has been very restricted. If this is you please go and see your GP for a referral to an Orthopaedic consultant as soon as possible.
If the noise is not painful it is most likely to be air pockets popping with the changes of pressure that movement causes inside the fluid of the ankle joints. Clicking ankles can also be caused by small particles swishing around in the fluid of the ankle joints.Painful clicking can be caused by soft tissue damage in the joint like cartilage that has been worn away or has broken off and is floating around in the joint. Clicking or clunking can also be caused by tendons or scar tissue slipping over the bony bits of the ankle. These things can be caused by spraining the ankle. Please click on this link to learn more about the most common cause of ligament sprain.
In summary – if your clicking ankle is also painful you need to get it checked out but if it is not painful you need not worry about it. If in any doubt please get in touch!
FAQ
Why do my feet click when I walk?
Painless clicking when you walk is usually gas bubbles releasing inside the joint fluid, or a tendon flicking over a bony prominence as the foot moves. Both are normal mechanical noises. In the foot the commonest sources are the small joints of the midfoot and the tendons running behind the ankle bones.
Is clicking in my feet or ankles something to worry about?
Clicking without pain, swelling, giving way or loss of movement is not a sign of damage and does not need treatment. Joint noise correlates poorly with joint health. Clicking that comes with pain, instability, catching or a joint that locks is different, and that combination is worth having assessed.
Why do my ankles click so much?
Frequent ankle clicking is often a tendon, most commonly the peroneal tendons behind the outer ankle bone, moving over bone as you point and flex the foot. Reduced ankle mobility, previous sprains and low calf or foot muscle strength all make it more noticeable, because the joint moves less smoothly through its range.
What does it mean if my ankle clicks and hurts?
Clicking combined with pain suggests something is being irritated as it moves rather than simply making noise. Common causes include tendon irritation after a sprain, impingement at the front or back of the ankle, and joint surface changes. This pattern warrants assessment because the cause determines whether loading or protecting it is right.
Should I stop my ankles and feet from clicking?
There is no need to avoid painless clicking, and deliberately cracking a joint repeatedly does not cause damage either. What does help is improving ankle and foot mobility and strength, which often reduces the clicking as a side effect because the joints move more evenly through their range.
Can clicking feet mean arthritis?
Clicking alone is not an indicator of arthritis. Osteoarthritis in the foot or ankle typically produces stiffness that is worst first thing in the morning, pain that increases with load through the day, and gradual loss of movement. Noise without those features is not a warning sign.
Do exercises help clicking ankles and feet?
They often reduce it. Calf raises, ankle mobility work through the full range, and single-leg balance work all improve how evenly the joint moves and how well the surrounding muscles control it. If clicking is accompanied by pain, get the cause identified first — the right exercise depends on which structure is involved.
When should I see a physiotherapist about a clicking ankle?
See a physiotherapist if the clicking comes with pain, swelling, a sense of the ankle giving way, catching or locking, or if it started after an injury and has not settled. Octopus Clinic in Blackfriars assesses foot and ankle problems; an initial 30-minute assessment is £86 and a 60-minute assessment with treatment is £129.