Having healthy feet is essential to overall health. But part of caring for our feet includes caring for our ankles. Why is it important to keep our ankles healthy?
The Importance of Our Ankles
The ankles are what allow you to balance and stabilize your body. The ankle joint is composed of three bones:
- The talus. Sits above the heel bone with joints that connect to the tibia and the fibula.
- The tibia. Known as the shinbone, this is the larger leg bone that connects to the ankle bone.
- The fibula. This smaller leg bone is located on the lateral side of the tibia.
Ankle disorders can affect any of these parts when bone, muscles, or soft tissue are damaged.
Common Ankle Pain Causes
If you experience any pain in your ankles, you could be suffering from one of these ankle disorders:
- Sprains/Fractures
- Peroneal Tendon Tear
- Ankle Impingement
- Arthritis
Sprains/Fractures
One of the most common ankle injuries is spraining or fracturing your ankle. This ankle disorder is usually due to running, jumping, or overuse of the ankle joint. If these activities have weighed on your ankles, twisting them beyond the normal range of motion, tripping, or landing on foot with increased force can all lead to a sprain or fracture.
A sprain occurs when the ligaments connecting the ankle bones tear, resulting in mild to severe pain. The sprain will lead to inflammation which can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication, rest, and ice packs. You might need to wear compression bandages in the most severe sprains, get cortisone (steroid) injections, or even surgery.
A fracture refers to breaking one of the ankle bones. If the fracture is severe, surgery might be necessary. Some of the procedures performed on ankle fractures will require:
- Rebuilding/reconstructing of bones, joints, tendons, or ligaments
- Damaged tissue to be removed
- Bones to be fused for stability
- The ankle joint to be replaced
Peroneal Tendon Tear
The ankle contains two peroneal tendons that run alongside each other behind the outer ankle bone. One tendon attaches at the outer part of the midfoot. The other runs under the foot and connects to the inside of the arch.
Tears in one (or both) of these tendons is common amongst athletes in sports with repetitive ankle motions. The symptoms of a peroneal tendon tear include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Lack of stability of the ankle/foot
Treatment for a peroneal tendon tear will depend on the severity of the ankle injury. It may require the ankle’s immobilization with a cast/splint, physical therapy, medication, or surgery.
Ankle Impingement
Pain in the ankle may be due to impingement in one of two sections of the ankle. Impingement in the anterior of the ankle refers to the entrapment of structures along the anterior margin of the tibiotalar joint in terminal dorsiflexion. Impingement in the ankle’s posterior refers to compression of structures posterior to the tibiotalar and talocalcaneal articulations during terminal plantar flexion.
Treatments for ankle impingement will include:
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Surgery
Determine the Cause of Your Ankle Disorder
The professionals at Canyon Oak Foot & Ankle are trained to identify the cause of your ankle pain. We understand how vital it is to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible. Schedule your appointment today at any of our California podiatrist locations.