Ankle Bones and
Ligaments
Lateral Ankle ligaments
Medial Ankle Ligaments
Refresher Quiz
Medial view
Injuries of the Foot,
Ankle, and Lower Leg
Acute Soft Tissue Injuries

Commonly occur as a result of direct contact and intrinsic and extrinsic forces
acting on the foot, ankle, and leg.

Can include:

Contusions

Sprains

Strains
Contusions

Mechanism:

Contact with ground or opposing player

Kicking unyielding object

Be hit or stepped on

2 types: Bone and Soft Tissue

Bone:

Direct contact to the medial tibia can result in localized swelling (periostitis) and
hematoma formation under the periosteum.

This swelling can take considerable time for the body to absorb.
Contusions

Soft Tissue:

Disability and loss of function are usually much worse with muscle contusions due
to tenderness, swelling, and spasm within the muscle tissue.

Decrease ROM and strength also occur depending on the severity of the contusion.

Rarely result in serious injury.


Complications can arise from severe contusions and excessive bleeding within the enclosed
anterior compartment.

Closely monitor any contusions that result in severe swelling of the compartment that
result in neurovascular compromise.
Stone bruises can be particularly problematic because of the nature of the injury.

Can cause pain and point tenderness, making it difficult to bear weight.

Discoloration and swelling may vary depending on severity.
Sprains


Signs of inflammation

Pain
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Heat

Swelling

Redness

Loss of function
1st degree


2nd degree


Ligament is stretched, causing minor pain and inflammation
Ligament is partially torn, causing considerable pain, and inflammation
3rd degree

Ligament is completely ruptured, may not be as painful, but inflammation is
obvious and function may be completely lost.
Lateral Ankle Sprains


Mechanism:

Inversion with or without plantar flexion.

Typical scenario involves a player landing on opponent’s foot or landing awkwardly
on the outside of the foot.
Signs and Symptoms:

Immediate pain

May hear or feel a “pop”

Most sprains will follow general characteristics of 1st-3rd degrees.


Swelling may be a poor indicator of severity of injury because even minor sprains can
result in considerable swelling.
2nd and 3rd degree sprains will commonly involve other structures due to
compressive forces.
Lateral Ankle Sprains

Common Structures:

Almost always involves the ATFL

The CFL and PTFL may also be involved.

Dislocation of the ankle may result with 3rd degree sprains

Associated fractures and avulsions are not uncommon
Medial Ankle Sprains

Much less common because of the structure of the ankle (Lateral Malleolus
and Deltoid Ligament complex)

Mechanism:

Eversion

Signs and symptoms are consistent with 1st-3rd degree sprains.

Disability may be prolonged due to the function of the involved ligament
structure.
Syndesmotic Sprains

Otherwise known as a “High Ankle Sprain”

Caused from disruption of Tibiofibular ligaments and the distal interosseous
membrane.

Mechanism:


Forced Hyperdorsiflexion

Lateral rotation of the foot
Most often seen in contact sports like football. Also common in Skiing.
Foot Sprains

Any injury to a ligament inside the foot.

Can result from chronic stress on the foot or through acute
injury.

Signs and symptoms include pain, point tenderness, swelling and
difficulty with weight bearing activities.

A common foot sprain can include a Lasfranc injury that involves
the 1st and 2nd tarsometatarsal joints.

The foot is dorsiflexed and everted, putting pressure on the 1st
metatarsal head.

Lisfranc sprains can cause a widening of the gap between the bones
and result in pain that increases with weight bearing activity, and
some joint instability.
Toe Sprains

Typically result from direct contact to the toes such as
stubbing the toe.

Most problematic are sprains to the 1st toe.

Commonly referred to as “Turf Toe”

Can result from extreme ranges of motion (flexion or extension)

May notice decreased range of motion with pain.

Incredibly painful when trying to push off.
Strains

Injury to a muscle or tendon

Typically result from either overstretching or muscular overload.

Most strains are of the acute variety, but there are some that are associated
with chronic repetitive stress.

Signs and symptoms include the 5 signs of inflammation along with muscle
spasm


2nd and 3rd degree strains may present a palpable defect in the muscle belly or
tendon.
Cramping or prolonged spasm can lead to symptoms of a 1st degree strain on
the following day.
Rupture of the Achilles Tendon

Often results from sudden, violent plantar flexion during eccentric loading.

Hard contraction while the muscle is being lengthened.

Common mechanisms include quick changes of direction and rapid plantar
flexion

The athlete will complain of immediate pain and disability.

They will often report feeling like they were kicked or shot in the back of the leg.

Considerable swelling and discoloration with a very obvious defect in the
Achilles tendon.

The athlete will be unable to plantar flex the injured ankle.
Rupture of the Plantaris muscle

Similar mechanism as Achilles Tendon Rupture, forced contraction while
muscle is stretched.

Sudden sharp pain in the deep posterior leg that feels like being kicked or
shot.

Due to the relatively insignificant function of the plantaris muscle,
disability is usually minimal.
Rupture of the Peroneal Retinaculum

Peroneal retinaculum function to tether the Peroneus Longus and Peroneus
Brevis behind the lateral malleolus.

Can be strained or ruptured by a direct blow, forceful eversion, or inversion
ankle injury.

Damage can cause the peroneal tendons to sublux, or snap over the lateral
malleolus.

Repetitive snapping of the tendons can result in peroneal tendon damage.
Chronic or Overuse Soft
Tissue Injuries
Chronic Soft Tissue Injuries


Frequent complain in active individuals as a consequence of repeated
microtrauma

The body is not allowed enough time to heal from normal wear and tear between
workouts

This includes abnormal friction, traction, structural mechanics, or some
combination of these.
Most problems stem from over pronation of the foot.

This can send excessive or abnormal stresses further up the body chain to the
shins, knees, hips, and back.
Retrocalcaneal Bursitis

Affects the bursa that lies between the calcaneus and the distal insertion of
the Achilles tendon.

Causes:



Repetitive overuse

Direct pressure

Friction from poorly fitted shoes
Signs/ Symptoms

Localized swelling

Redness

Point Tenderness

Pain with plantar flexion
May result in thickening of the bursa and eventual calcium formation if left
untreated.
Plantar Fasciitis

Inflammation of the Plantar Fascia, which lies on the
underside of the foot and stretches from the calcaneus
to the metatarsal heads.

Typically an overuse injury but can be caused from
being overweight, poor footwear or playing surface, or
improper conditioning.

Athlete will complain of gradual onset of pain that gets
better with exercise.


Pain will start out progressively worse and take longer
before subsiding as condition worsens.
If the condition is prolonged, a heel spur may form.
Tendinitis

Inflammation of a tendon

Relatively common in the athletic population and typically results form
overuse, friction, or tendon traction.

Signs and symptoms include pain, point tenderness, and crepitus over the
inflamed tendon.


Crepitus is a grinding or grating sensation felt when moving the joint or muscle.
Pain may be evident with active or passive stretching.
Tenosynovitis

Inflammation of the synovial sheath that
wraps around a tendon.

Characterized by snowball crepitus


Crepitus feels similar to the crunch of
snow.
With both tendinitis and tenosynovitis,
chronic thickening of the tendon or
synovial sheath may occur with prolonged
inflammation.
Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever’s Disease)

Typically occurs in skeletally immature
athletes.

The area around the insertion of the Achilles
tendon becomes inflamed from repetitive
stress.

Signs/ Symptoms


Posterior inferior heel pain

Point tenderness

Increased pain with weight bearing activity
Rapid growth and stretching of the Achilles
tendon may be a predisposing factor.
Anterolateral Impingement

Chronic ankle pain that can result from
synovitis and scar tissue thickening
secondary to lateral ankle injuries.

Signs and symptoms:

Persistent pain in the anterolateral ankle

Pain may last for weeks or months after a
lateral ankle sprain.
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS)

Commonly known as Shin Splints

Inflammation of the periosteum on the medial border of the tibia

Predisposing factors include:

Excessive pronation

Inflexibility of the posterior musculature

Dorsiflexor weakness or fatigue

High or low arches

Being overweight

Overuse

Condition can be brought on from changing footwear, running surfaces, or
training intensity.

If left untreated, MTSS can lead to stress fractures, compartment syndrome,
or bone tumors.
Traumatic Fractures
Tibial and Fibular Fractures

Can result from direct blow or indirect torsional stress

Fibula



Can result from direct blow or from severe eversion stress

Avulsion fractures are not uncommon in association with lateral ankle sprains.
Tibia

Requires much more force.

Can result from direct impact in sports like football.
Push off and avulsion fractures are relatively common as a result of severe
inversion or eversion forces on the ankle.
Bimalleolar Fracture

Known as a Pott’s Fracture

Typically the result of excessive Eversion

Notice:

Avulsion fracture of medial malleolus

Shear fracture of the fibula
Foot Fractures

Typically the result of the same forces associated with foot sprains.

May also result from being stepped on, having heavy objects dropped on the
foot, or from falling from a great hight.
Lisfranc Fractures

Notice:

Second metatarsal fracture

Tarsometatarsal joint dysfunction

Widened gap between cuneiforms

Displaced metatarsal bases
Jones Fracture

Occurs from indirect loading on the
5th metatarsal with eversion and
plantar flexion

Notice:

Obvious deformity at 5th metatarsal
base.
Calcaneal Fractures

Much less common

The most common cause happens when falling and landing
on the heel from a great height.