Ankle
The feet and ankles provide an intricate network of bones, muscles, and ligaments designed to handle a large amount of weight. As our feet carry us in a variety of slow and fast moving activities, they are constantly at risk for injury. It is not hard to overload these body parts during rigorous sports training. Foot and ankle injuries are common in sports where quick maneuvers are utilized, such as soccer or basketball. Dancers and gymnasts are also notorious for having a higher incidence of these types of injuries. The Lendermon Medical Center team helps athletes of all types recover successfully from foot and ankle injuries.
The most common foot and ankle injuries include:
- Sprains – occur when a joint is stretched or twisted, resulting in ligament or other tears. Most sprains are inversion sprains, where the ankle is turned inward, resulting in stretched or torn ligaments.
- Fractures/Stress Fractures – occur when a tiny break in the bone results from stress, impact or overuse of the supporting muscle
- Tendonitis – occurs when the tendons become inflamed due to injury or overuse, often seen with uphill runners.
Broken toes, broken feet, or dislocated ankles are also common injuries in athletes.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs of a foot or ankle injury may include:
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Pain
- Arch pain
- Heel pain
Ankle Sprains
Sprains are the most common type of ankle injuries. These injuries occur when the ankle is forced into an abnormal position causing stretching and tearing of the ligaments surrounding the joint. Sports activities make athletes more susceptible to ankle sprains.
The degree of the sprain is determined by the amount of damage to the ligaments and can be classified as grade I (partial tear or stretching of the ligaments), grade II (partial tear of the ligaments with moderate functional impairment) or grade III (complete tear and loss of the integrity of the ligaments).
Types of ankle sprains
The mechanism of the injury determines what type of ankle sprain has occurred and which ligaments are affected.
Inversion (lateral) ankle sprains occur when the ankle rolls inward and downward simultaneously injuring the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. This is the most common type of ankle sprain.
Eversion (medial) ankle sprains are caused by the ankle being forced outward and upward which affects the ligaments on the inside of the ankle. This type of sprain is not very common as the bony structures (medial malleolus and talus) on the medial side of the ankle provide excellent support to the joint. Often an outside force adds to this type of injury.
High ankle (syndesmosis) sprains have a similar mechanism to the eversion sprain, but the key is the addition of a medial force to the lower leg. This type of injury affects the joint between the two lower leg bones, as well as, the ankle joint. High ankle sprains are often very difficult to diagnose and tend to have a longer recovery time.
Athletes with an ankle sprain may experience:
- A “popping” sound when the injury happens
- Pain or tenderness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Inability to bear weight
- Stiffness
These signs and symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the ankle sprain.
Osteochondral Injuries
An injury to the smooth surface on the end of the bones, called articular cartilage, and the bone underneath. Degree of injury ranges from a small crack to a piece of bone (fragment) breaking off inside the joint. Fragments may range in size and depth and can remain attached or become a loose body inside the joint. Common in adolescents and young adults and typically occurs in the knee, ankle, and elbow.
Cause
- Trauma or repetitive stress to the joint.
Symptoms
- Pain with weight bearing
- Swelling
- Occasional catching or locking of joint
- Tender to touch
- Decreased motion and instability of the joint