Ankle Pain & Tendinitis
Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Medical Editor: Dennis Lee, MD
Treatment for Exercise & Sports Injuries
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Sports injuries refer to the kinds of injury that occur
during sports or exercise. While it is possible to injure any part of the body when playing
sports, the term sports injuries is commonly used to refer to injuries of the
musculoskeletal system.
Some of the most common sports injuries include:
- Sprains—tears to the
ligaments that join the ends of bones together. The ankles, knees, and wrists
are commonly affected by sprains.
- Strains—pulls or tears
of muscles or tendons (the tissues that attach the muscles to the bones)
- "Shin splints"—pain
along the outside front of the lower leg, commonly
seen in runners
- Achilles tendonitis
or rupture of the Achilles tendon—These injuries involve the large band of tissue that connects the calf muscles
to the heel
- Fractures of the bones
- Dislocation of joints
Acute injuries usually
occur suddenly while participating in sports or exercise. They may result in
sudden and severe pain, the inability to bear weight on a limb, or inability to move the affected part of the body. Chronic
injuries usually result from overuse of one area of the body over a period of
time. Symptoms of chronic injuries include soreness, dull aching pain, and pain
during participation in physical activity.
How is the ankle designed, and what is its
function?
The ankle is
a "hinged" joint capable of moving the foot in two primary directions: away from
the body (plantar flexion) and toward the body (dorsiflexion). It is formed by
the meeting of three bones. The end of the shinbone of the leg (tibia) and a
small bone in the leg (fibula) meet a large bone in the foot, called the talus,
to form the ankle. The end of the shin bone (tibia) forms the inner portion of
the ankle, while the end of the fibula forms the outer portion of the ankle. The
hard bony knobs on each side of the ankle are called the malleoli. These provide
stability to the ankle joints, which function as weight-bearing joints for the
body during standing and walking.
Ligaments on each side of the ankle also provide
stability by tightly strapping the outside of the ankle (lateral
malleolus) with the lateral collateral ligaments and the inner
portion of the ankle (medial malleolus) with the medial collateral
ligaments. The ankle joint is surrounded by a fibrous joint capsule.
Tendons that attach the large muscles of the leg to the foot
wrap around the ankle both from the front and behind. The large
tendon (Achilles tendon) of the calf muscle passes behind
the ankle and attaches at the back of the heel. A large tendon
of the leg muscle (posterior tibial tendon) passes behind the
medial malleolus. The peroneal tendon passes behind the lateral
malleolus to attach into the foot.
The normal ankle has the ability to move the foot,
from the neutral right-angle position to approximately 45 degrees
of plantar flexion and to approximately 20 degrees of dorsiflexion.
The powerful muscles that move the ankle are located in the front
and back portions of the leg. These muscles contract and relax
during walking.
Next: What injuries can cause ankle pain? »
- Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) - Describes Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), which are medications used primarily to treat inflammation, mild to moderate pain, and fever.
- Knee Pain - Read about knee pain causes (osteoarthritis, arthritis), symptoms (swelling, stiffness) and treatment (exercises). Learn about knee anatomy and knee injuries.
- acetaminophen, Tylenol and Others - Describes the medication acetaminophen (Tylenol) a drug used to relieve pain and reduce fever. Article includes descriptions, uses, drug interactions, and side effects.
Latest Medical News
Specialty RSS
