Are you dealing with pain in the front part of your ankle, especially when you run or push off with that foot? If so, you may be battling a condition called anterior ankle impingement. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why anterior ankle impingement develops and how Dr. Silverman and his team can help you treat the condition.
What Is Anterior Ankle Impingement?
Anterior ankle impingement occurs when calcific deposits or a subchondral injury to the talus leads to the development of bone spurs in the front part of your ankle. This leads to irritation of the soft tissues in the area, especially when your ankle is in a dorsiflexed position (bending up at the ankle joint). Repetitive ankle dorsiflexion is also an underlying cause of the condition, which is why it tends to be more common in athletes like soccer players, dancers, football players, gymnasts and runners. In fact, the condition is sometimes referred to as “footballer’s ankle” because it is a common injury among soccer players who put an immense amount of strain on this part of their foot during a match.
Besides the onset of pain at the front-outside area of the ankle, other symptoms of anterior ankle impingement include:
- Decreased range of motion
- Pain with squatting or stair/hill climbing
- Ankle instability
Many patients do not have an inhibited walking gait if they are dealing with anterior ankle impingement when walking on flat ground, but gait issues and symptoms may become more noticeable when walking on uneven or uphill surfaces.
Treating Anterior Ankle Impingement
If you are dealing with any of the above symptoms, especially during athletic activity, set up a consultation with a foot and ankle specialist like Dr. Silverman. He’ll begin by taking a closer look at your feet and their range of motion during simple movements, and he’ll also ask about your symptoms and what actions make things worse or better. From there, he may opt to take a closer look inside the area with the help of an X-ray. An MRI is only considered if additional structure damage is suspected.
In most instances, the first line of treatment for anterior ankle impingement involves conservative care methods. Short-term rest and anti-inflammatory medications can help to decrease inflammation and swelling in the area, and then physical therapy can help to safely expand your comfortable range of motion and break up any scar tissue that has formed as a result of tissue irritation caused by the bone spurs. Oftentimes this is enough to help keep symptoms at bay, but if the spurs are still causing issues, surgery may be ordered.
During an ankle arthroscopy, the surgeon will make a few small incisions over the anterior ankle in order to access the affected area. The bone spurs will be carefully removed, and the patient is sent to a recovery room once the incision sites have been closed. You will then follow a similar path as those pursuing conservative care, with rest, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy helping to protect the area and restore it to normal function. Many people make a quick recovery and are back to competitive or recreational sports in short order following surgery and a couple weeks of rehabilitation.
For more information about anterior ankle impingement or another issue that is causing discomfort in your feet or ankles, reach out to the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today at (952) 224-8500.
