Ankle Pain and Injury

The problem

The ankle joint is formed by three bones – the tibia, fibula and talus – which are held together by a number of very strong ligaments. Because the ankles support the weight of the entire body, ankle injuries are very common and can be debilitating. Injury can occur to the ligaments, cartilages, tendons and/or muscles surrounding the ankle joint, causing a range of different symptoms.

Many of these acute ankle injuries go on to create chronic issues but simple treatment and rehab strategies can go a long way to reducing long term impacts of ankle injury.

You may experience any or all of the following:

• Pain, swelling and bruising
• Stiffness
• Discomfort or pain during activity or rest
• Tingling or numbness
• You may be unable to walk or stand on the affected foot

Who it affects

Ankle pain can occur in people from all walks of life (apologies for the pun…) Achilles Tendonitis is one of the most common injuries experienced for people who participate in activities that require repetitive loading, like running or jumping. It is more likely to occur if you have weakness in your calf muscles and overly stiff ankles.

Ankle sprains are also common for sporting populations, especially sports that need sudden changes in direction, like netball or soccer. Sprains can occur when the ligaments are stretched past their normal limit causing stretching, tearing or disruption to the ligament. These sorts of injuries tend to be recurrent when not managed well and put you at further risk of injury elsewhere in the lower limb (think hip and knee).

The ankle is also a common site for different degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

What we do about it

At MOH, we work hard to get you back on track following illness or injury, we plan for progress and reassess to keep you on track to reaching your goals. Our therapists will put together a plan that draws on the most reliable strategies to treat your ankle pain or injury.