Ankle Arthritis
Article by John Miller
What is Ankle Arthritis?
Arthritis is an umbrella term for over 100 medical conditions that affect your joints.
Ankle arthritis-related problems include pain, stiffness, inflammation and damage to joint cartilage (the tissue that covers the ends of bones, enabling them to move against each other) and surrounding structures. Ankle arthritis can result in muscle weakness, joint instability and physical deformities in the foot, ankle and lower limb. These physical deficits can interfere with your most basic daily tasks, such as walking and running. Plus, it can limit your ability to walk, descend stairs, or even put on your shoes etc.
The number of people who have arthritis is growing as our population lives longer. There is a belief that osteoarthritis is simply a consequence of age. Osteoarthritis is not merely a natural part of ageing. There are millions of working-age sufferers and genetic influence. Researchers have identified that certain families are susceptible to arthritis through genetic predisposition.
However, the early diagnosis seems to be a key to better management of your ankle arthritis. Research suggests that early intervention can delay the onset of the disease and reduce osteoarthritis cases.
Common Causes of Ankle Arthritis
While there are about 100 forms of arthritis, the three most common causes account for 95% of all arthritis. These are:
General Arthritis Information
Rheumatology Conditions
Rheumatoid Conditions – Overview
Osteoarthritis Conditions
Osteoarthritis – Overview
Common Arthritis Treatments
There is no known cure for arthritis. However, arthritis is usually manageable but can impact your quality of life and includes varying degrees of discomfort and pain.
With accurate assessment and early treatment, most arthritis sufferers respond effectively to physiotherapy, allowing them to resume pain-free and normal daily activities quickly.
Please ask your physiotherapist for their professional treatment advice.
Common Ankle Injuries
Welcome to an exploration of common ankle injuries. The ever-present sprained ankle is at the forefront, accompanied by various sources contributing to ankle pain. Fractures, stress fractures, and tendinopathies are part of this landscape, each with implications. Ankle impingement and foot posture issues emerge, and biomechanical issues take centre stage, affecting alignment and eventually fast-tracking ankle arthritis. Even the younger population experiences heel concerns, with Severs disease impacting many young athletes' seasons. This article serves as a concise guide to understanding the complexities of ankle problems.
Sprained Ankles
The most common ankle injury is a sprained ankle, but ankle pain can have numerous sources.
Ankle Fractures
An ankle fracture occurs when there is a break in one or more of the bones. The most common ankle fractures are avulsion fractures of your distal fibula, which can be a side effect of an ankle sprain. All suspected fractures require medical investigation and professional management by your health professional to avoid long-term foot and ankle issues. If your healthcare professional suspects an ankle fracture, you will be referred for at least an X-ray and potentially an Orthopaedic Surgeon.
- Ankle Fracture (Broken Ankle)
- Stress Fracture
- Stress Fracture Feet
- Severs Disease
- Heel Spur
- Shin Splints
Ankle Tendinopathies
While muscle strains are more common in your legs, there are essential muscles that converge into tendons that wrap around your ankle to stabilise your ankle and foot to protect them from sprains and allow you to walk and run. These muscles and their tendon vitally provide a normal foot arch and avoid flat feet. Your muscles or tendons can become injured or inflamed due to overuse or trauma. The inflammation is called tendonitis. They can also tear, completely rupture, or sublux out of place. Medically tendon injuries are known as tendinopathies, and at the ankle may include:
- Achilles Tendinopathy
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Peroneal Tendinopathy
- Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy
- FHL Tendinopathy
- Plantar Fasciitis
Ankle Arthritis
Your ankle pain and dysfunction can lead to degenerative conditions such as ankle osteoarthritis. While arthritis usually is a chronic deterioration of your ankle joint, it is crucial to slow ankle arthritis progression. Would you please seek the professional advice of your ankle and foot health practitioner, e.g. physiotherapist or podiatrist?
Biomechanical Conditions
Biomechanical disorders may result in foot deformation, painful weight-bearing and potentially nerve compression. In simple terms, this is where your foot and ankle do not have normal bone alignment and motion control. Here are a few possible conditions related to poor ankle biomechanics.
- Anterior Ankle Impingement (Front of Ankle Pain)
- Posterior Ankle Impingement (Back of Ankle Pain)
- Pes Planus (Flat Feet)
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Muscle Injuries
Nerve-Related Ankle Pain
Children & Youth Conditions
Systemic Conditions That May Cause Ankle Pain
Soft Tissue Inflammation
Other Useful Information
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Foot, Ankle & Heel Pain FAQs
Welcome to our comprehensive FAQ guide on Foot, Ankle & Heel Pain. In this guide, we aim to address common questions and concerns related to foot, ankle, and heel pain. We will cover various topics, including ankle injuries, heel pain, Achilles pain, foot pain, shin pain, youth injuries, and balance and proprioception. Whether you're experiencing discomfort or seeking preventive measures, this guide will provide valuable insights and advice to help you understand and manage these conditions effectively.
Ankle Injuries
- What are the Common Ankle Injuries?
- Which are the Most Commonly Injured Ankle Ligaments?
- How to Strap an Ankle?
- What Causes Ankle Impingement?
- What is a High Ankle Sprain?
- What Constitutes a "Simple" Ankle Sprain?
- Why Do Your Joints Click?
Heel Pain
- What are the Common Causes of Heel Pain?
- How Do You Treat Heel Pain in a Child?
- How Can You Tell the Difference Between Heel Spurs and Plantar Fasciitis?
Achilles Pain
Foot Pain
- What are the Common Causes of Foot Pain?
- How Can You Relieve Foot Pain?
- What are the Disadvantages of Barefoot Running?
Shin Pain
Youth Injuries
Balance & Proprioception
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Exercise Equipment, Back, Elbow, Foot, Hand & Wrist, Knee, Resistance Band, Shoulder
Resistance Bands Pre-Packed 1.5m
$6.90 – $38.70 -
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