Introduction
Disorders related to the foot and ankle can have a huge impact on one day to day activity. Certain minor unnoticed foot and ankle conditions can become major problems. There are various ways to treat ankle injuries ranging from acute injuries like a sprain to chronic degenerative issues. Treating an ankle injury can be customized based on the need of the person, where various innovative surgical and non-surgical treatment options are available.
What Is Meant by Ankle Pain?
The ankle bone and the two lower leg bones consist of the ankle joint; the ligaments stabilize and support it, which attaches one bone to another. The muscles and tendons present help in the movement of the ankle. Ankle pain is any form of pain or discomfort that is caused in any region of the ankle caused due to injury, arthritis, and wear and tear. Based on the cause, the pain and discomfort can be felt anywhere around the ankle. It causes swelling on the ankle, and it cannot bear any weight.
Most ankle pain can be managed without surgery. The most common ankle problems are sprain, where the ligament gets damaged, and fracture, where there is a break in the bone. Ankle pain can be treated through rest, ice packs, and painkillers. If the injury is severe, like a broken ankle bone, or if non-surgical treatment does not improve the condition, surgery is required. If the person has undergone surgery, physical therapy also helps heal. The treatment helps to relieve pain and prevents further injury.
What Are the Common Ankle Disorders Caused?
Among all the joints in the body, the ankle is the one that experiences the highest frequency of injuries. Ankle disorders are caused due to any injury to the bone, muscle, or soft tissue. The most common disorders include:
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Sprain:
Ligaments are the fibrous tissues that attach the bones to the joints. Engaging in sports or activities can stretch or tear these ligaments, resulting in a sprain. A sprained ankle is caused when the ankle twists, turns, or rolls, damaging the ligament.
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Fracture:
When there is a complete or partial break in the bone, it is called a fracture. The weakening of the bone can be attributed to various factors such as trauma, overuse, or underlying medical conditions.
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Tendonitis:
Tendonitis occurs when the tissues attaching the bone to the muscle get inflamed.
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Arthritis:
When one or more joints get inflamed, it results in stiffness and pain. This condition worsens with age.
What Are the Causes of Ankle Disorders?
There are many causes of ankle disorders that vary from person to person, including running, jumping, and overuse. Some other common causes of ankle disorders are:
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Every joint has a certain range of motion beyond which it results in trouble. Exceeding the normal range of motion through twisting or rotating the ankle can lead to ankle disorders, resulting in pain and discomfort.
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A person's foot is held in sudden falls or tripping, causing them to fall or almost fall.
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Applying excess pressure or force on the foot while landing can also result in some ankle conditions.
Tendonitis in the Ankle Is Caused Due To:
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Less conditioning of the muscles in the leg and foot.
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Excess strain on the tendon, which connects the calf muscle and the heel, is called the Achilles tendon.
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The presence of bone spurs on the heel rubs over the Achilles tendon.
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Untreated flat feet result in stress in the posterior tibial tendon.
Various Forms of Arthritis Can Also Affect the Foot and Ankle:
Arthritis is a condition where one or more joints are affected, resulting in pain and stiffness, which worsens with age. This condition cannot be cured entirely, but treatment can help to improve the condition. The types of arthritis are,
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Osteoarthritis:
This form of arthritis affects the cartilage between the bone. In this condition, the cartilage gets worn away. Cartilage is the flexible tissue present at the end of the bone. It is a degenerative form of arthritis that initiates in middle age and progresses over time. This results in pain and stiffness, and the condition worsens over time.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis:
This is an autoimmune inflammatory condition caused by the body mistakenly attacking its healthy tissues and cells. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints present in the hands and legs. In severe cases of this condition, the immune system also affects the internal organs.
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Post-traumatic Arthritis:
An injury to the ankle or foot causes it. Stress caused due to injury can make the joint become stiff and inflamed. The cartilage that protects the ends of the bones will gradually deteriorate.
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Flatfoot:
The arch at the foot does not develop properly when the child grows and may result in a flat foot with a very low arch or no arch. This results in pain in the foot and ankle.
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Gout:
Gout occurs when an excessive buildup of uric acid in the joints, normally excreted through urine, leads to the condition. When this uric acid accumulates in the ankle, it results in severe pain.
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Infection:
Many infections, such as cellulitis, can cause pain and swelling in the ankle joints.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Ankle Disorders?
The signs and symptoms of the ankle disorder are based on the type of injury. Some common symptoms are:
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Pain, swelling, or stiffness in the ankle joint can be caused due to sprain, sudden jerk or movement, arthritis, infection, etc.
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Any ankle disorder results in stiffness and pain in the joint, which may make it difficult to move the ankle around.
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When there is an ankle disorder bearing any weight on the ankle may worsen the condition.
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Difficulty while walking.
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Bruising the presence of blood under the skin as a result of trauma.
How Is Ankle Disorder Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of ankle disorders requires a complete physical examination, and X-rays are taken to rule out the fractured bone. Further image testing like CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is done based on the X-ray results.
How Is Ankle Disorder Managed?
The management of ankle disorder is based on the injury and the symptoms. Both non-surgical and surgical options are available, where the non-surgical options are:
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Medications such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen are recommended, which help to reduce swelling and inflammation.
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Resting.
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Elevating the ankle.
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Use of ice packs which helps to reduce swelling.
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Use compression bandages or cast to prevent mobilization of the ankle.
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Use of steroid injections to handle the pain.
Severe injuries or ruptured tendons may require surgical treatment. Surgical procedures used to correct ankle disorders include:
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A reconstruction procedure is done to rebuild bone, joints, tendons, and ligaments present in the ankle.
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Elimination of damaged tissue.
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Increase the calf muscle length to decrease the pressure over the Achilles tendon.
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Fusion of the ankle bones to enhance stability.
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Arthroplasty, replacement of the ankle joint.
How to Prevent Ankle Disorder?
Disorders of the ankle can occur at any age and cannot be completely prevented, but some ways can help a person prevent ankle pain by keeping the bone, ligament, and cartilage strong. Some ways are
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The person should be fit and maintain proper weight, as over or excess weight can enhance the pressure over the ankle, which may result in ankle pain.
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All other muscles in the body should be strong and maintained properly through regular exercise, which can reduce the risk of ankle injury or pain.
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If a person feels pain during any exercise or activity, it should not be ignored and should be consulted with the doctor. Timely treatment can help prevent the progression of the condition.
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Stretches and warming up before any exercise will help prevent any ankle injury.
What Is the Long-Term Outlook of Ankle Disorders?
If a person experiences an ankle disorder, the long-term look is based on the severity of the injury and the symptoms. It is also based on whether a person requires surgery. Ankle sprains are common; the healing process is done within six weeks. It is the same with fractures if no surgery is needed. If an ankle injury can be treated only with the help of surgery, it will take several weeks and months to recover. Physical therapy for about 12 months will be required, which also helps in the healing process. Even though surgery helps in the ankle's mobility, it has a higher chance of causing infection and nerve damage.
Conclusion
Ankle disorders are the most common injury or fractures caused in the body. Various reasons can cause it. These disorders can be treated surgically or non-surgically, depending on the severity of the injury and the symptoms experienced by the person. This can be prevented by regular physical activity.
