The name footballer's ankle is used because footballers are especially prone to developing this condition due to the amount of kicking that’s involved in the sport. However, if you participate in any sports that requires you to sprint, jump, and frequently change direction, you are at an increased risk of developing anterior ankle impingement. It is also a common in injury in basketball players, dancers and gymnasts.
This painful condition can decrease your mobility and limit your ankle range of movement; in severe cases, it can take you out of the game and require surgical intervention.
There are two types of footballer’s ankle:
Soft tissues including the ligaments and the joint capsule become pinched between the two bones of the ankle joint, the tibia and talus.
The shin bone jars against the ankle bone, causing microdamage which the body tries to heal by producing extra bone growth. This bony lump can block movement and cause pain, and also trap the soft tissues.
Footballer's ankle is caused by any activity that requires repetitive and forced plantarflexion and dorsiflexion in your ankle; in other words, pointing your foot down and it being forced up, like when you kick a ball or land in a jump.
If the tissues in the front of your ankle become stretched and damaged, scar tissue and inflammation occur. These thickened and damaged tissues can become pinched inside the ankle joint leading to pain and further inflammation.
As the condition continues, calcific deposits begin to form in the joint, and eventually these grow into bone spurs. A bone spur is a bony lump that blocks the natural movement of your ankle and also adds to the entrapment of the soft tissues during the upward movement of the ankle.
These bone spurs can eventually lead to damage of the talus bone – the bone at the bottom of your shin bone that articulates with the top of your foot bone.
Another very common cause of anterior ankle impingement is from spraining your ankle badly or repeatedly. This is because each time you do, your ligaments over stretch and become inflamed and weaker. These stretched ligaments cause problems in two ways – they catch inside the joint causing anterior impingement, and also, they no longer do their job of telling your brain how and when to move your ankle. This means you become less coordinated and makes you more susceptible to further ankle sprains.
No matter how your footballer’s ankle has developed, the most prevalent symptom is usually pain and persistent discomfort, and often a significant decrease in your range of motion.
Common symptoms of footballer’s ankle include:
Footballer’s ankle can become so painful that it may become difficult to not only perform the dynamic motions that are part of your sport but also basic movements and activities. If you suspect you have footballer's ankle, it's important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The severity of footballer’s ankle and the recommended plan to treat it will vary from person to person.
As with any sports-related injury—and any foot or ankle injury in general—it’s important to take your symptoms seriously. Do not convince yourself that your symptoms will go away on their own. If left untreated, foot and ankle conditions can potentially worsen.
Seeking timely treatment for footballer’s ankle allows you to get relief from your symptoms and mitigates the risk of further complications.
Remember, the sooner you contact a foot and ankle specialist, the sooner you can get the treatment you need. Prompt treatment for footballer’s ankle improves your recovery journey and treatment outcome so you can heal fully and return to the sport or other physical activity that you enjoy.
Your doctor can diagnose ankle impingement by completing a physical examination and sending you for imaging tests. An MRI and ultrasound can offer images of soft tissue impingement and swelling, while X-rays and CT scans can reveal bone spurs.
Standing CTs can be particularly useful – all these images and scans can be arranged at most of the clinic sites that Martin works at.
Treatment for footballer’s ankle will vary, as treatment options will be tailored to the severity level of your condition.
For some people with footballer’s ankle Physiotherapy rehabilitation is enough to settle your symptoms. Specific treatments and exercises will help strengthen your ankles, reduce your pain and inflammation and improve your balance and coordination.
Steroid injections might also be recommended to help reduce swelling and tissue inflammation which will in turn reduce the impingement of those tissues.
If you have a more severe and ongoing case of footballer’s ankle, you may need surgical intervention. Your surgeon can remove or repair inflamed or damaged tissue, fix structural issues, and remove bone spurs.
Arthroscopic ankle surgery is only indicated as a last resort if conservative management has been unsuccessful. It is a highly effective and very safe procedure with excellent outcomes.
Prevention is always better than cure!
If you participate in any of the above sports, it is important that you train sensibly and take preventative measures to reduce the risk of developing footballer’s ankle.
Here are a few tips:
If you have footballer’s ankle or any foot-related or ankle-related condition or injury that needs to be addressed please get in touch to book an appointment.
Martin Klinke is one of the leading ankle surgeons in London. With an impressive background in both Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, he takes a comprehensive and compassionate approach to your treatment. He’s a trusted, reputable surgeon who can help get you back in the game!
Mr Martin Klinke offers outpatient consultations at HCA at the Shard, Chiswick Outpatient & Diagnostic Centre, HCA Canary Wharf, BUPA Cromwell Hospital and the New Victoria Hospital. He operates from London Bridge Hospital, BUPA Cromwell, and New Victoria Hospital and the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth.
You can find all his patient reviews here.
