ORTHOPEDICS/LEG, FOOT & ANKLE
The medical term of the ankle joint is the “talocrural” joint.
The ankle joint is linked to three bones: the tibia, the fibula, and the talus.
The body weight is normally transmitted from the tibia to the talus, which distributes this weight anteriorly and posteriorly within the foot.
The fibula, which is the longer bone on the outer part of the lower leg, does notsupport weight through your ankle. The fibula only helps attaching the lateral part of the ankle joint.
Ankle Motions:
Four movements constitute the ankle motions: the dorsiflexion, the plantarflexion, the inversion, and eversion.
Several muscles attach near the ankle help these ankle motions.
The ankle also includes ligaments that attach one bone to another.
These ligaments task is helping avoiding intensif motion around your ankle joint; therefore, when spraining an ankle, one or more of these ligaments becomes overstretched, leading to ankle pain and mobility restriction.
Recurrent ankle sprains can lead to an unsteady ankle joint.
The Ankle Ligaments
Two categories define the ligaments of the ankle joint: the lateral collateral ligaments and the medial collateral ligaments.
While the ligaments of the ankle are strong fibrous bands, they are repeatedly disposed to damages due frequently to the subtalar joint intensive motion.
The lateral collateral ligaments comprise the anterior talofibular ligament, calcaneofibular ligament, talocalcaneal ligament, posterior talocalcaneal ligament and the posterior talofibular ligament.
The anterior talofibular ligament that passes from the tip of the lateral malleolus to the talus anteriorly, limits the plantar joint flexion.
On the other part, the calcaneofibular ligament that passes from the lateral malleolus to the calcaneus with the talocalcaneal ligament running at its base, resists to the adduction.
In addition the posterior talofibular ligament that passes from the tip of the lateral malleolus to the talus posteriorly, extends this band to the calcaneus and all limit any dorsiflexion.
The lateral ankle ligaments are most often sprained. If you turn your ankle inwards forcefully, you may overstretch or tear these ligaments, leading to an ankle sprain.
The medial collateral ligaments, or deltoid ligament, include the tibionavicular ligament, calcaneotibial ligament, anterior talotibial ligament, and the posterior talotibial ligament.
The tibionavicular ligament runs anteriorly form the medial malleolus to the navicular bone. The calcaneotibial ligament runs from the tip of the medial malleolus to the edge of the calcaneus. Both prevent abduction. The anterior and posterior talotibial ligaments run anteriorly and posteriorly between the medial malleolus and the talus. They limit plantar flexion and dorsiflexion respectively.
The deltoid ligament is a thick ligament, and it is not sprained as easily as the lateral, or outside, ligaments. The fact that your fibula on the outside part of your ankle blocks excessive motion into eversion also creates a situation where overstretching the deltoid ligament is difficult.
Physical Therapy
If a person have a twisted or turned ankle, he/she may have suffered an ankle sprain.
Physical therapy may help an ankle sprain.
Rehab
Rehab of an ankle sprain involves several modules such as:
Controlling the inflammation around the ankle
Performing trainings to improve ankle motion range
Improving calf flexibility
Improving ankle strength and steadiness
Improving balance
Improving proprioception of the lower extremity
X-ray may be performed to confirm absence of crack.
Physical therapy (TP) can help regaining normal state.