How do I get ankle impingement?
After a period of intensive training you may begin to experience pain in the front aspect of your ankle. Whenever you take a step you may have a feeling that there is something blocking the front part of your ankle joint.
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After further examination a diagnosis of ankle impingement is made. Ankle impingement is a painful restriction of ankle movement which may be as a result of an ankle injury or overuse of the ankle joint.
The individual may experience pain especially when the foot points downwards and is also turned inwards with his/her body weight on it. Sometimes stepping on an even object or surface also produces pain.
Impingement implies that some muscles or tough cords are being crushed or compressed by a bone (s). This compression is usually experienced either at the front or back of the ankle joint.
It may also occur when the foot bends upwards towards the leg from repeated landing from jumps. Small bony spurs may also develop which may cause
What are the causes?
The bones of the leg meet with the bones of the foot to form the ankle joint. Your ankle joint allows you to walk, run, jump etc. The joint also permits you to move your foot up and down.
The bones in your ankle assist in transferring your weight to the foot with every step you make. Whenever you lift your foot off the ground, the front aspect of your foot may become compressed.
The stress placed on it may be excessive and may cause damage to the ankle joint or your foot. Sometimes there are bony outgrowths which may cause the compression.
Frequent causes of this condition include:
Inappropriate correction of a foot that frequently turns inwards
Having high arches
Too much stress in the small muscles beneath the foot
Having an ankle sprain
Performing activities which involve recurring strenuous bending of the foot
Repetitive bending of the foot
Forced inward turning of the foot
What are the symptoms?
The onset of symptoms may be subtle or may be as a result to a sudden injury.
The condition results in pain at the front of the ankle and pain increases when the foot is pulled upwards.
The presence of small bone spurs may also cause sharp pain in the front aspect of the foot.
Pain may increase with frequent turning of the affected foot and whilst pushing off when standing or with a sudden change in direction.
Pain becomes worse at the end of the foot movements especially when the foot points downwards or when you stand on your toes. You may experience weakness and instability in the ankle joint in your daily activities.
The symptoms may also result in reduced movement in the affected foot. The individual may develop swelling over the foot and may complain of locking or stiffness or catching in the ankle especially when he/she moves all the toes down or up.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis of this condition is made by performing an examination of the ankle joint and foot as well as specific tests. You may be asked whether you’ve had a change of footwear, training, when the pain began.
You may also need to perform several movements to ascertain the pain-free positions and whether there are any restrictions in ankle movements.
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Investigations for ankle impingement may be performed for diagnostic purposes. Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI scanning is helpful to identify defects in both the bones and the muscles or the strong cords around the joints.
A plain X-ray film may show bony growth or developments at the front aspect of the ankle or a broken bone. An MRI may be required, which will show what’s’ happening in other structures like the muscles around the ankle joint more clearly.
The tests performed assist in the confirmation of the diagnosis and also aids in the determination of an appropriate management.