THE INJURIES WE TREAT
How does the ankle work?
The ankle joint is a hinge between the leg and the foot and is made up of two joints: the subtalar joint and the true ankle joint.
The true ankle joint is composed of 3 bones - the tibia, fibula and talus which are connected by ligaments, muscles and tendons. The true ankle joint is responsible for up and down motion of the foot.
Beneath the true ankle joint is the second part of the ankle, the subtalar joint, which consists of the talus on top and calcaneus on the bottom. The subtalar joint allows side to side motion of the foot.
The most common ankle injuries in sports people are ligament, tendon and cartilage damage. Most ankle injuries are caused when the ankle is twisted or when the foot is pointing downwards. They are especially prevalent in contact and kicking sports, exposing the ankle to potential trauma-direct blows. The result can be dislocation, fracture, stretching or tearing of ligaments and muscle/ tendon strains. Extensive running, exercise or training can also overstress the ligaments, leading to injury.
Common ankle injuries
Ankle instability
Ankle ligament tear
Ankle osteochondral defects
