Ankle problems occur frequently, having symptoms of pain or discomfort in the

ankles The ankle, or the talocrural region, or the jumping bone (informal) is the area where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle includes three joints: the ankle joint proper or talocrural joint, the subtalar joint, and the inferior tibiofibular join ...

. Mild ankle pain can often be cured by home treatments, although these may be slow to take effect. Specialized physicians are needed if the condition is severe, especially if it has been caused by injury.

Symptoms

The ankle joint marks the point of connection between the bones of the leg and those of the foot, and controls the raising and lowering of the foot. The ankle is often considered to comprise not only the ankle joint itself but also the structures surrounding it at the lower end of the leg and the beginning of the foot proper. Ankle pain may be symptomatic of

inflammation Inflammation (from la, wikt:en:inflammatio#Latin, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or Irritation, irritants, and is a protective response involving im ...

of, or injury to, any of the tissues present in the region, including the joint space,

cartilage Cartilage is a resilient and smooth type of connective tissue. In tetrapods, it covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints as articular cartilage, and is a structural component of many body parts including the rib cage, the neck an ...

tendons A tendon or sinew is a tough, high-tensile-strength band of dense fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. It is able to transmit the mechanical forces of muscle contraction to the skeletal system without sacrificing its ability ...

, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Ankle pain may be associated with the following symptoms: * swelling * bruising * redness * numbness or tingling * instability * burning pain * inability to bear weight on the affected ankle * stiffness * weakness Tenderness/pain, difficulty in flexing the joint, difficulty in walking, difficulty in bearing weight, stiffness and swelling form a constellation of symptoms which may be indicative of osteoarthritis.

Causes

Frequent causes of ankle problems include injuries such as sprains and medical conditions such as arthritis (specifically

osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone which affects 1 in 7 adults in the United States. It is believed to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the w ...

Sprained ankle

One of the most frequent causes of ankle pain (accounting for around 85 percent of total ankle problems - according to the

National University of Health Sciences National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) is a private university in Lombard, Illinois that focuses on the health sciences. The university offers professional degrees in chiropractic and naturopathic medicine, master's degrees in acupuncture ...

( NUHS)) a sprain occurs when the ankle is twisted, causing the

ligament A ligament is the fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones. It is also known as ''articular ligament'', ''articular larua'', ''fibrous ligament'', or ''true ligament''. Other ligaments in the body include the: * Peritoneal li ...

s to be over-stretched, or even (in the most severe cases) torn. Most ankle sprains are lateral sprains that occur when the foot rolls, causing the side of the ankle to be pressed to the ground. Small blood vessels rupture in the process and cause the ankle to swell and damage may also occur to the ligaments, these constituting a short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissues holding the bones together. Rolling of the ankle may also damage

or tendons. A sprained ankle will usually display signs of swelling and bruising for one to two weeks, although more serious cases may take several months to heal fully.

Athlete An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-devel ...

s run a greater risk of sprained ankles - more especially players of

ball game This is a list of ball games and ball sports that include a ball as a key element in the activity, usually for scoring points. Ball games Ball sports fall within many sport categories, some sports within multiple categories, including: *Bat-and- ...

s such as

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

and

volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...

. Out of every 10 people with severe ankle sprains, between 1 and 2 suffer chronic instability of the affected joint. A sprained ankle may remain permanently weakened and of compromised stability following the healing of the injury. The biggest risk factor for an ankle sprain is a previous ankle sprain, according to a review published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Osteoarthritis

Arthritis Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In som ...

is an

of the joints, causing swelling in and around the joints of the body and their surrounding soft tissues. This inflammation can cause pain and stiffness and is one of the most common causes of ankle problems. In many types of arthritis, progressive joint degeneration in the joint occurs and smooth "buffered" cartilage is gradually lost, causing the bones rub against each other and wear, as well as the soft joint tissue. Arthritis can be unbearably painful and can lead ultimately to limited movement, serious loss of joint function and even deformity of affected joints. There are many types of arthritis, of which osteoarthritis is very common cause of ankle pain. This is caused by cumulative wear and tear of the joint and may also result in swelling and deformity. It occurs most frequently in the old, with the likelihood of osteoarthritis increasing with age.

How osteoarthritis influences the feet and ankles

The human foot has 28 bones and more than 30 joints. The following foot joints are those most commonly affected by osteoarthritis: * The three foot joints, including the heel, the medial and the mid-foot bone * big toe and foot bone joint * Joints at which the ankle and the tibia meet

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. Most commonly, the wrist and hands are involv ...

constitutes yet another possible cause of pain in the ankle.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis Tendinopathy, a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder (rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow (tennis elb ...

is one of the most common causes of pain in the foot or ankle. The muscles of the legs, feet and ankles are fixed to the bones by tendons, which are strong rope-like structures. Tendonitis is inflammation around a tendon, leading to pain experienced during and after activity, which abates temporarily, but returns upon resumption of exercise. Common forms of

tendonitis Tendinopathy, a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder (rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow (tennis elb ...

affecting the foot and ankle include

Achilles tendonitis Achilles tendinitis, also known as achilles tendinopathy, occurs when the Achilles tendon, found at the back of the ankle, becomes sore. Achilles tendinopathy is accompanied by alterations in the tendon's structure and mechanical properties. The ...

, posterior tibial tendonitis, peroneal tendinosis, flexor tendonitis, and extensor tendonitis. Self-care measures usually heal these injuries in a few weeks

= Common causes

= * Overuse: The most common cause of tendonitis is overuse, which means that the tendon is overstretched and may be slightly pulled apart or torn. This happens when activities increase, including everything from walking to participating in competitive sports. *Sports Injury: Rapid lateral movements and changes in direction place stress on the tendons of the ankle. Such movements are common in trail running, soccer, and basketball. * Abnormal foot structure: Problems such as flat feet or high arches can create muscle imbalances that put pressure on one or more tendons. * Trauma: Injury to the foot or ankle can cause tendinitis. This can happen by sudden and powerful actions such as jumping. Another form of trauma is chronic friction on the shoe, which usually occurs at the top of the foot or heel, causing tendinitis in these areas. * Medical conditions: Certain diseases that cause general inflammation can cause tendinitis. Inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, gout and spondyloarthropathy can cause Achilles tendinitis or posterior tendonitis. * Nerve damage such as

sciatica Sciatica is pain going down the leg from the lower back. This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Onset is often sudden following activities like heavy lifting, though gradual onset may also occur. The pain is often described ...

* Blocked blood

vessels Vessel(s) or The Vessel may refer to: Biology *Blood vessel, a part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body *Lymphatic vessel, a thin walled, valved structure that carries lymph *Vessel element, a narrow wat ...

Joint infection

Septic arthritis Acute septic arthritis, infectious arthritis, suppurative arthritis, osteomyelitis, or joint infection is the invasion of a joint by an infectious agent resulting in joint inflammation. Generally speaking, symptoms typically include redness, hea ...

is a type of arthritis caused by bacterial or fungal infection of the ankle region.

Injuries

Injuries can cause ankle problems, for example, tripping or going over on the ankle.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ankle problems, especially of osteoarthritis involves: * Medical history * Medical examination *

X-ray An X-ray, or, much less commonly, X-radiation, is a penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Most X-rays have a wavelength ranging from 10 picometers to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30&nb ...

* Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or

CT scan A computed tomography scan (CT scan; formerly called computed axial tomography scan or CAT scan) is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers ...

References

{{Anatomy Ankle