Ankle Conditions

There are many ankle conditions that can lead to pain, weakness and instability. Normal ankle function is needed to walk with a smooth and nearly effortless gait. The muscles, tendons and ligaments that support the ankle must all work together to propel the body. Conditions that disturb the normal way the ankle works can make it difficult to do certain activities without pain or problems.

Conditions of the Ankle

The main role of the ankle is to provide shock absorption and to permit the foot to adjust to changing conditions. The ankle is vulnerable to injury and disease. Conditions that affect the ankle include sprains, arthritis, tendon problems, fractures, and dislocations. Learn more about these common ankle conditions:

Ankle Injuries

Other than fractures or dislocations, there are at least three kinds of ankle injuries: acute ligamentous injuries with joint disruptions, ligamentous injuries of lesser magnitude from a single episode or from repetitive "overuse" producing abnormalities of the ankle joint, and aggravation of pre-existing ankle abnormalities. Many chronic ankle conditions are initially caused by trauma.

A sprained ankle can often mask damage to other structures in addition to the ankle ligaments, such as subtle fractures, dislocations, or rupture of the peroneal tendons. Such injuries are frequently not diagnosed and thus cause ankle pain that persists much longer than would be expected with a straightforward ankle sprain.

Inversion ankle injuries are far more common than eversion injuries. This is due to the relative instability of the lateral ankle joint and weakness of the lateral ligaments compared with the medial ligament. Eversion injuries are seen only occasionally. As the strong medial ligament requires a greater force to be injured, these sprains almost always take longer to rehabilitate. The main purpose of an initial clinical assessment is to rule out the possibility of an ankle fracture and to diagnose the condition as accurately as possible.

Ankle Sprains and Ligamentous Injuries

Soft tissue injuries of the ankle joint occur as minor ligamentous injuries (type I sprain), incomplete ligamentous injuries (type II sprain), or complete disruption of the ligament or ligaments (type III sprain). Eversion and abduction of the foot may result in disruption of the deltoid ligament, whereas inversion stress may cause ligamentous disruption on the lateral side of the ankle. Diagnosis and treatment depend on an understanding of the ligaments and muscular structures around the ankle. Most types I and II ankle sprains, or ligamentous injuries, can be treated by immobilization. This allows stretched and attenuated ligaments to be in reasonable anatomical alignment and length during the healing process. Even though immobilization also quickly relieves pain and may be beneficial in reducing the swelling, early mobilization for these injuries produces results that are superior to immobilization.

Chronic Ankle Instability

Occasionally an ankle injury is of such magnitude that there is little doubt that the ligaments are completely ruptured. However, much more common is the acutely painful, swollen ankle in which instability is not apparent. When at least two of the ankle ligaments, the anterior talofibular and the calcaneofibular ligaments are torn, support exists for surgical repair. The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is the most important stabilizing ligament of the ankle. For chronic ankle instability, a muscle strengthening program should be tried for several months. Some patients may improve enough to make a reconstructive operation unnecessary. However, when disabling pain and instability persist, surgical reconstruction of the ankle should be considered.

The Southwest Ankle & Foot Center in Tucson, AZ

At the Southwest Ankle and Foot Center, treatment is available for many common and complex ankle conditions. We provide surgical and non-surgical treatment for ankle injuries, tendon and ligament problems, instability, and arthritis. Visit the Southwest Ankle & Foot Center.