Ankle Injuries - Page 1

Written by Andrew Peters D.O. Registered Osteopath mailto:osteopath@eventrate.com

In the orthopaedic out-patient clinic injuries to the foot and ankle are second in frequency only to back problems. About one fifth of all sports injuries will occur at the ankle, the commonest injury being one of “inversion”, or going over on the ankle. 20 to 35% of all football injuries are due to ankle sprains.

Anatomy of the ankle joint

The ankle joint consists of the lower ends of the tibia and fibula, which are bound together by the strong tibiofibular band to form a mortice in to which the talus sits. The articular surfaces are sculpted in such a way that the talus can slide smoothly to allow the foot to point down (plantar flexion) and up (dorsiflexion). The shape of the joint also helps to transfer the vertical force of weight-bearing to a more horizontal force along the foot. The joint is supported by strong medial (inside) and lateral (outside) ligament complexes. Over 90% of sprains to the ankle joint involve the lateral ligaments, while injuries to the medial ligament are less common and will often involve a fracture of the fibula. Mechanisms of “twisting” injuries

Because of the co-operation between bones and ligaments in maintaining ankle stability, combination injuries are common.