Footballers' Ankle

The Condition

Footballer's Ankle is a condition characterised by pain on the anterior or front part of the ankle. It is believed it is due to the constant trauma to the connective tissue on the front of the ankle joint mainly caused by kicking.

It is a condition that possibly needs to be renamed as 'Soccer Players Ankle' as it commonly occurs in soccer players, to the exclusion of many other sports specifically because of the repetitive kicking trauma on the ankle joint.

Pathology of The Condition

The ligaments in the region suffer repetitive micro-trauma and thicken. This then causes pain when the foot is moved in the extremes of either direction up or down, known as plantar and dorsi flexion movements. The plantar or downward movement pain is due to the tissue being stretched and the upward or dorsi-flexion movement pain is due to the thickened tissue being 'pinched' by the bones of the ankle as they move together.

The kicking action causes minor but repetitive trauma at the front of the ankle joint. This is due to the joint capsule being excessively stretched and from the bones at the front of the ankle being compressed. The resulting thickening of the capsule at the front of the joint and the formation of OSTEOPHYTES (extra growths of bone) in the area cause an IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME or a squeezing or nipping of the joint capsule at the front of the ankle.

Treatment

Initial treatment involves the usual R.I.C.E. regime together with anti-inflammatory therapy and specific ankle joint mobilisation and capsular stretching. If the condition persists a surgical opinion may be necessary.

Surgery, or prior to this cortisone injections, have been used to alleviate symptoms although results are not guaranteed especially if the bone has become involved.