Table of Contents
What is ankle pain?
Ankle pain is the most common condition that most people experience. The ankle joint is among the most common joints in your daily practice. To understand the mechanism of pain in your ankle joint, you have to understand the anatomy of the ankle joint.
Anatomy of the ankle joint:
The anatomy of the ankle joint is complex. It includes the following structures.
Bones forming the ankle joint.
Three bones are involved in forming the ankle joint. These include:
1-Tibia:
This bone, also known as the shinbone, provides constant support to the inner side of the ankle joint.
2-Fibula:
The supportive structure of your joint runs parallel to your tibia and strengthens the outer aspect of your ankle joint.
3-Talus:
This bone is situated between the tibia and fibula. The primary purpose of this bone is to transfer weight from leg to foot.
Ligaments and Tendons
Ligaments are the fibrous bands that stabilise your joints by connecting bones to bones. They play a crucial role in preventing excessive movement and bearing your weight.
Tendons act as bridges between muscles and bones; tendons such as the Achilles tendon are pivotal in enabling foot movements.
Muscles
Muscles, like the peroneus longus and tibialis anterior, drive foot motions. Their tone and strength are crucial in preventing injuries that lead to ankle pain.
Vascular and Nerve Supply
The ankle receives blood from branches of the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. Nerves, like the deep peroneal and tibial nerves, provide sensation and motor functions to your ankle joint.
Synovial Membrane and Joint Capsule
This membrane covers your joint and provides lubricating fluid, which offers smooth, gliding movement. From the outside, the joint is covered by a capsule that protects it from direct injury.
Injury to any of these structures causes pain in your ankle joint. It most commonly involves active and obese individuals.
How common is ankle pain?
It is the most common problem nowadays. A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that nearly 40% of all athletic injuries revolve around the ankle.
What are the Causes of Ankle Pain?
Multiple factors can cause ankle pain. It most commonly involves active athletes. However, some medical conditions are also associated with ankle pain. The most common causes of ankle pain include the following:
1-Sprain:
It occurs due to sudden twisting of your foot followed by overstretching or tearing of the ligaments. There are three types of ankle sprain. These include
- Anterior Talofibular ligament sprain
- Medial sprain
- High ankle sprain
2-Strain:
Strain usually involves muscles or tendons, not ligaments. It occurs when you overstretch your muscle or joint beyond its limit.
3-Degenerative disease:
Some medical diseases can also cause pain in your ankle joint. These include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Gouty arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Post-traumatic arthritis
4-Infections:
Bone infection can also cause pain in your ankle joint. These include:
- Osteomyelitis, often caused by bacteria, can inflict pain and inflammation in the ankle.
- Septic Arthritis
5-Fractures
Fractures can be due to trauma or injury to your joint or pathology (due to disease-like osteoporosis). These include:
- Stress Fractures: These tiny cracks in the bone can be the bane of athletes, especially those in high-impact sports.
- Complete Fractures: A more severe form where the bone breaks completely, often due to traumas like falls or impacts.
- Pathological fractures occur when your bones become too weak and can not even bear your body weight.
6-Tendinitis
Inflammation of the tendons, often resulting from overuse, can elicit pain. The Achilles tendon is particularly vulnerable to injury due to its critical role in foot movement. The most common types of tendonitis include:
- Peroneal tendonitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Posterior tibial tendonitis
7-Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursa, a small sac filled with lubricating fluid, can result in pain and discomfort, especially during movement.
8-Other Causes
- Pseudogout is similar to gout but involves calcium pyrophosphate crystals.
- Bone spur
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Cysts
- Tumors
Management of Ankle Pain with ANF Therapy®️:
History:
During the medical history assessment, your ANF Therapist will ask multiple questions to comprehensively understand the nature of your ankle pain. These questions include:
1-Onset and Duration of Pain:
When did the pain begin, and how long have you been experiencing it?
2-Location of the Pain:
Where exactly is the pain located in your ankle?
3-Unilateral or Bilateral:
Is the pain present in one ankle (unilateral) or both ankles (bilateral)?
4-Nature of pain:
What does the pain feel (e.g., sharp, dull, throbbing)?
5-Occupational History:
What is your occupation, and does it involve activities that might affect your ankle?
6-Previous Medical Illness:
Do you have a history of medical conditions relevant to your ankle pain?
7-Medication History:
Are you currently taking any medications, and if so, which ones?
Physical examination:
During physical examination, your ANF Therapist will thoroughly assess your ankle joint. This includes palpating your ankle to identify tenderness, swelling, or abnormal positioning areas. They will check the ankle’s range of motion by gently moving it in various directions to assess any pain, stiffness, or restriction during movement. Additionally, the therapist will examine the reflexes of the ankle joint to ensure that there are no signs of nerve injury, which could indicate more serious underlying issues. Some tests also help to relieve diagnosed ankle pain. These include:
Ankle Anterior Drawer Test:
Evaluates the integrity of the anterior talofibular ligament.
Tinel’s Sign:
Helps in diagnosing tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Application of ANF Devices:
Your ANF Therapists apply ANF Devices to the affected area of your body. These devices include inflammatory and antioxidant devices.
Anti-inflammatory devices:
Anti-inflammatory devices with positive and negative charges are applied to the ankle joint. These devices aim to remove the inflammation that is the primary source of pain in your ankle joint.
Antioxidant devices:
The antioxidant devices are applied along with anti-inflammatory devices. These devices aim to remove harmful free radicals that exacerbate the ongoing inflammatory process.
Other Devices:
Your ANF Therapist will create a personalised protocol for you by using different ANF Devices to support your immune system and initiate your body’s natural healing process.
Expected outcomes:
Follow-up:
Regular follow-up appointments are essential to monitor the ANF Devices’ effectiveness and ensure ongoing symptom relief. During these follow-up visits, your ANF Therapist will assess your progress, make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan, and address any new or persistent symptoms. Consistent follow-ups help track improvements, identify issues early, and maintain overall treatment efficacy.
Start your journey with ANF Therapy®️:
How to relieve ankle pain at home?
You can relieve your ankle pain at home by adopting the following activities:
1-Rest:
Avoid putting weight on your ankle as much as possible. Resting gives the injured tissues time to heal and reduces further strain on the joint. Use crutches or a walking aid if necessary to minimise movement.
2-Icing
Ice has good anti-inflammatory properties. Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours during the first 48 hours after the injury. This helps reduce swelling and numb the pain. Ensure the ice pack is wrapped in a cloth to avoid direct contact with the skin, which can cause frostbite.
3-Warm Compression:
Warm compression increases the flow of blood to the joint’s affected area. Therefore, applying warm towels or heating pads to the joint for 20-30 minutes can help relax muscles and relieve muscle stiffness.
4-Leg Elevation:
Elevate your ankle above the level of your heart as much as possible, especially during the first few days after the injury. This helps reduce swelling by allowing fluids to drain away from the injured area. You can prop your leg up on pillows while lying down or sitting.
How to prevent ankle pain?
You can prevent your ankle pain by adopting the following activities that include:
- Avoid physical activities when you are feeling pain in your ankle
- Wear protective and supportive equipment as advised by your doctor
- Rest your body
- Warm up your joints before doing exercises
- Physiotherapy of your ankle joint
Differential Diagnosis for Ankle Pain:
Some diseases are linked with ankle pain. These include the following:
- Soft tissue injuries such as muscle strain, ligament sprain, and tendonitis
- Skeletal abnormalities, e.g., os, trigonum syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ankle arthritis
- Gough arthritis
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Lyme disease
Frequently asked questions:
How do you reduce fluid from the ankle fast?
Does drinking water reduce swollen ankles?
Yes, drinking water can reduce swollen ankles. Staying hydrated helps flush out excess sodium, which can cause swelling. Proper hydration also improves circulation, aiding in the reduction of fluid retention. Aim for at least 8-10 glasses of water daily. If swelling persists, consult your nearby ANF Therapists.
Are there non-invasive treatments for ankle pain?
How does ANF Therapy®️ work in alleviating ankle pain?
About ANF Therapy®️
ANF Therapy®️ uses circular ANF Devices, which are applied directly on the skin after palpation and assessment by a trained ANF Therapist following the ANF Therapy®️ Method, Patented Model no. U202030252, ES1259974.
The ANF Therapy®️ purpose is the alleviation of injury and pain within minutes.
Our aim is that the patient experiences a reduction of pain and swelling, an increase in range of motion, and an improvement in quality of life related to health. Non-transdermal, non-invasive device, NO needles or chemicals are used.
Do you need help with your health issues? Have you been experiencing symptoms of Ankle Pain?
Contact us, and we will explain how we can help you!
