Ankle Impingement Syndrome: Pain in the Gymnast Athlete
Apr 14, 2026
First published October 2018 Updated April 2026
Most gymnasts can recall a time when they’ve landed a tumbling pass or vault and immediately experienced a painful stinging sensation in their ankles. Many gymnasts brush off that feeling, figuring it is just part of the sport. The truth is, ankle pain with landings in gymnastics is NOT normal.
The sport of gymnastics includes many skills that require jumping and standing in relevé (on toes). The combination of these activities leads to tight calf muscles with a great amount of explosive strength. When the calf muscles become tight in a gymnast, less motion is available in the ankle to absorb forces during landings. As a result, excessive force is placed on the front of the ankle joint when landing skills. The cumulative jumping that the sport requires combined with excessive forces placed on the front of the ankle can lead to a common gymnastics injury called anterior ankle impingement syndrome.
In ankle impingement syndrome, the soft tissue structures in the front of the ankle become irritated and sometimes create bone spurs because of the pinching that occurs at the front of the ankle joint. Gymnasts who have this condition often complain of pain with landings (especially back tumbling), deep squatting, descending stairs, walking, and running. Tenderness in the front of the ankle is also present and occasionally swelling is also noted. Anterior ankle impingement syndrome can also occur because of an ankle sprain or recurrent ankle sprains.
Athletes with ankle impingement syndrome typically have painful and decreased ankle motion, poor single leg balance, and decreased ankle strength that limits their successful participation in sport. By increasing the motion in the ankle by focusing on calf flexibility and ankle joint mobility as well as improving the ankle’s ability to absorb force through slow, eccentric (or anti-gravity) strengthening, that stinging ankle pain on landings can decrease or even go away!
For more information on treatment and prevention of injuries in athletes, or to request an appointment with our Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy team, click here.
Jenna Swartzentruber, PT, DPT, earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from The Ohio State University and went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Mount St. Joseph University in 2024. With a background as a collegiate gymnast, Jenna has a unique perspective on the physical and mental demands of competitive athletics. She has a strong passion for treating performing arts athletes, including gymnasts, dancers, and cheerleaders in the clinical setting.
Brittany H Selhorst, PT, DPT, OCS
Brittany Selhorst PT, DPT, OCS is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and is also certified in STOTT Pilates. She is a faculty member on the orthopedic residency program and lectures on gymnastics injuries. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from The Ohio State University. Prior to completing her education, Brittany performed a doctorate practicum with a focus on gymnastics and dance rehabilitation
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