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
