Ankle problems | |
---|---|
Ankle of human | |
Symptoms | swollen, bruising, redness, numbness, instability, burning pain, stiffness, weakness [1] |
Duration | around 7-14 days, severe problems might take months to cure. [2] |
Types | Gout, arthritis, tendinitis, nerve damage, blocked blood vessels, joint infection, Injuries, muscle weakness, relapse of existing problem [3] |
Causes | Usually Sprained ankle [4] |
Diagnostic method | Medical history, Medical examination, X-ray, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or CT scan [5] |
Ankle problems occur frequently, having symptoms of pain or discomfort in the ankles. [1] [2]
Mild ankle pain can often be cured by home treatments, although these may be slow to take effect. Specialized physicians are needed if the condition is severe, especially if it has been caused by injury. [2]
The ankle joint marks the point of connection between the bones of the leg and those of the foot, and controls the raising and lowering of the foot. The ankle is often considered to comprise not only the ankle joint itself but also the structures surrounding it at the lower end of the leg and the beginning of the foot proper. Ankle pain may be symptomatic of inflammation of, or injury to, any of the tissues present in the region, including the joint space, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Ankle pain may be associated with the following symptoms: [1]
Tenderness/pain, difficulty in flexing the joint, difficulty in walking, difficulty in bearing weight, stiffness and swelling form a constellation of symptoms which may be indicative of osteoarthritis. [6]
Frequent causes of ankle problems include injuries such as sprains and medical conditions such as arthritis (specifically osteoarthritis [7] ).
One of the most frequent causes of ankle pain (accounting for around 85 percent of total ankle problems - according to the National University of Health Sciences (NUHS)) a sprain occurs when the ankle is twisted, causing the ligaments to be over-stretched, or even (in the most severe cases) torn. [4] Most ankle sprains are lateral sprains that occur when the foot rolls, causing the side of the ankle to be pressed to the ground. [7] Small blood vessels rupture in the process and cause the ankle to swell [4] and damage may also occur to the ligaments, these constituting a short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissues holding the bones together. [8] Rolling of the ankle may also damage cartilage or tendons. [7] A sprained ankle will usually display signs of swelling and bruising for one to two weeks, although more serious cases may take several months to heal fully. [7]
Athletes run a greater risk of sprained ankles [4] - more especially players of ball games such as football, basketball and volleyball. [1]
Out of every 10 people with severe ankle sprains, between 1 and 2 suffer chronic instability of the affected joint. [1]
A sprained ankle may remain permanently weakened and of compromised stability following the healing of the injury. The biggest risk factor for an ankle sprain is a previous ankle sprain, according to a review published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). [7]
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints, causing swelling in and around the joints of the body and their surrounding soft tissues. [5] This inflammation can cause pain and stiffness [5] and is one of the most common causes of ankle problems. [7]
In many types of arthritis, progressive joint degeneration in the joint occurs and smooth "buffered" cartilage is gradually lost, causing the bones rub against each other and wear, as well as the soft joint tissue. Arthritis can be unbearably painful and can lead ultimately to limited movement, serious loss of joint function and even deformity of affected joints. [5]
There are many types of arthritis, of which osteoarthritis is very common cause of ankle pain. This is caused by cumulative wear and tear of the joint and may also result in swelling and deformity. [5] It occurs most frequently in the old, with the likelihood of osteoarthritis increasing with age. [6]
The human foot has 28 bones and more than 30 joints. The following foot joints are those most commonly affected by osteoarthritis: [5]
Rheumatoid arthritis constitutes yet another possible cause of pain in the ankle. [7]
Tendonitis is one of the most common causes of pain in the foot or ankle. The muscles of the legs, feet and ankles are fixed to the bones by tendons, which are strong rope-like structures. Tendonitis is inflammation around a tendon, leading to pain experienced during and after activity, which abates temporarily, but returns upon resumption of exercise. [9]
Common forms of tendonitis affecting the foot and ankle include Achilles tendonitis, posterior tibial tendonitis, peroneal tendinosis, flexor tendonitis, and extensor tendonitis. [10] Self-care measures usually heal these injuries in a few weeks
Septic arthritis is a type of arthritis caused by bacterial or fungal infection of the ankle region. [2]
Injuries can cause ankle problems, for example, tripping or going over on the ankle. [3]
Diagnosis of ankle problems, especially of osteoarthritis involves: [5]
In humans and other primates, the knee joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two joints: one between the femur and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body. The knee is a modified hinge joint, which permits flexion and extension as well as slight internal and external rotation. The knee is vulnerable to injury and to the development of osteoarthritis.
Tendinopathy is a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle.
Shoulder problems including pain, are one of the more common reasons for physician visits for musculoskeletal symptoms. The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. However, it is an unstable joint because of the range of motion allowed. This instability increases the likelihood of joint injury, often leading to a degenerative process in which tissues break down and no longer function well.
A sprain is a soft tissue injury of the ligaments within a joint, often caused by a sudden movement abruptly forcing the joint to exceed its functional range of motion. Ligaments are tough, inelastic fibers made of collagen that connect two or more bones to form a joint and are important for joint stability and proprioception, which is the body's sense of limb position and movement. Sprains may be mild, moderate, or severe, with the latter two classes involving some degree of tearing of the ligament. Sprains can occur at any joint but most commonly occur in the ankle, knee, or wrist. An equivalent injury to a muscle or tendon is known as a strain.
Diseases of the foot generally are not limited, that is they are related to or manifest elsewhere in the body. However, the foot is often the first place some of these diseases or a sign or symptom of others appear. This is because of the foot's distance from the central circulation, the heart and its constant exposure to pressures from the ground and the weight of the body.
Achilles tendinitis, also known as achilles tendinopathy, occurs when the Achilles tendon, found at the back of the ankle, becomes sore. Achilles tendinopathy is accompanied by alterations in the tendon's structure and mechanical properties. The most common symptoms are pain and swelling around the affected tendon. The pain is typically worse at the start of exercise and decreases thereafter. Stiffness of the ankle may also be present. Onset is generally gradual.
A soft tissue injury is the damage of muscles, ligaments and tendons throughout the body. Common soft tissue injuries usually occur from a sprain, strain, a one-off blow resulting in a contusion or overuse of a particular part of the body. Soft tissue injuries can result in pain, swelling, bruising and loss of function.
Ringbone is exostosis in the pastern or coffin joint of a horse. In severe cases, the growth can encircle the bones, giving ringbone its name. It has been suggested by some authors that such a colloquial term, whilst commonly used, might be misleading and that it would be better to refer to this condition as osteoarthritis of the inter-phalangeal joints in ungulates.
An ankle fracture is a break of one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, and an inability to walk on the injured leg. Complications may include an associated high ankle sprain, compartment syndrome, stiffness, malunion, and post-traumatic arthritis.
A sprained ankle is an injury where sprain occurs on one or more ligaments of the ankle. It is the most commonly occurring injury in sports, mainly in ball sports such as basketball, volleyball, football, and tennis.
Knee effusion, informally known as water on the knee, occurs when excess synovial fluid accumulates in or around the knee joint. It has many common causes, including arthritis, injury to the ligaments or meniscus, or fluid collecting in the bursa, a condition known as prepatellar bursitis.
Shoulder surgery is a means of treating injured shoulders. Many surgeries have been developed to repair the muscles, connective tissue, or damaged joints that can arise from traumatic or overuse injuries to the shoulder.
Orthopedic pathology, also known as bone pathology is a subspecialty of surgical pathology which deals with the diagnosis and feature of many bone diseases, specifically studying the cause and effects of disorders of the musculoskeletal system. It uses gross and microscopic findings along with the findings of in vivo radiological studies, and occasionally, specimen radiographs to diagnose diseases of the bones.
Therapeutic ultrasound refers generally to any type of ultrasonic procedure that uses ultrasound for therapeutic benefit. Physiotherapeutic ultrasound was introduced into clinical practice in the 1950s, with lithotripsy introduced in the 1980s. Others are at various stages in transitioning from research to clinical use: HIFU, targeted ultrasound drug delivery, trans-dermal ultrasound drug delivery, ultrasound hemostasis, cancer therapy, and ultrasound assisted thrombolysis It may use focused ultrasound or unfocused ultrasound.
Lameness is an abnormal gait or stance of an animal that is the result of dysfunction of the locomotor system. In the horse, it is most commonly caused by pain, but can be due to neurologic or mechanical dysfunction. Lameness is a common veterinary problem in racehorses, sport horses, and pleasure horses. It is one of the most costly health problems for the equine industry, both monetarily for the cost of diagnosis and treatment, and for the cost of time off resulting in loss-of-use.
Musculoskeletal injury refers to damage of muscular or skeletal systems, which is usually due to a strenuous activity and includes damage to skeletal muscles, bones, tendons, joints, ligaments, and other affected soft tissues. In one study, roughly 25% of approximately 6300 adults received a musculoskeletal injury of some sort within 12 months—of which 83% were activity-related. Musculoskeletal injury spans into a large variety of medical specialties including orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, emergency medicine and rheumatology.
Knee pain is pain in or around the knee.
The hand is a very complex organ with multiple joints, different types of ligament, tendons and nerves. Hand disease injuries are common in society and can result from excessive use, degenerative disorders or trauma.
The treatment of equine lameness is a complex subject. Lameness in horses has a variety of causes, and treatment must be tailored to the type and degree of injury, as well as the financial capabilities of the owner. Treatment may be applied locally, systemically, or intralesionally, and the strategy for treatment may change as healing progresses. The end goal is to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with injury, to encourage the injured tissue to heal with normal structure and function, and to ultimately return the horse to the highest level of performance possible following recovery.
Running injuries affect about half of runners annually. The frequencies of various RRI depend on the type of running, such as speed and mileage. Some injuries are acute, caused by sudden overstress, such as side stitch, strains, and sprains. Many of the common injuries that affect runners are chronic, developing over longer periods as the result of overuse. Common overuse injuries include shin splints, stress fractures, Achilles tendinitis, Iliotibial band syndrome, Patellofemoral pain, and plantar fasciitis.