{"id":7668,"date":"2019-06-28T07:05:21","date_gmt":"2019-06-28T07:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7668"},"modified":"2021-04-19T14:08:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T14:08:06","slug":"14-things-to-know-about-ankle-ligaments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-things-to-know-about-ankle-ligaments\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Things to Know About Ankle Ligaments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ankle ligaments are made up of soft tissue. There isn\u2019t too much blood that flows to ligaments. When there is an injury to a ligament it takes a long time for it to heal. As with all ligaments, they are connected bone to bone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are things you need to know about ankle ligaments because if you ever injure your ankle, you\u2019ll want to know what to do or what\u2019s going on. Ankle injuries usually happen when doing physical activity. Once an injury occurs it is important to take steps to heal it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most ankle injuries can be treated at home, but in severe cases, they need to be seen by a doctor. Ankle sprains are caused by damage to the ligaments. Ice and rest are two main at-home treatments that are good for ankle sprains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight things to know about ankle ligaments that you haven\u2019t thought or heard of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Younger men are more prone to have ankle injuries than older women. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Younger men between 15 and 24 have more ankle ligament issues than older women. Older women who are 30 and over have more issues than men their age. Younger men usually have more ankle <\/a>issues because they are competitive and play a lot of sports. Older women usually get their ankle injuries from working in the yard.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many older women who are physically active. Older men tend to do more sitting than being physically active. The reason could be that when they were younger, they worked their bodies so hard that when they got older, they just couldn\u2019t do it anymore. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to take care of your body when you\u2019re younger because as you get older, you won\u2019t be able to do some of those same activities. You\u2019ll experience pain every time you try to do an activity.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Arthritis can form if ankle injuries aren\u2019t healed properly. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ankle ligaments are soft tissue and if that soft tissue never repairs itself it can lead to arthritis down the road. Some people never let their ankle ligament heal and continue doing their activity on their ankle. As they get older, arthritis <\/a>sets in, which causes pain and stiffness.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019ll become difficult to walk because your ankle will be stiff. You may have to use a cane or walker in order to get around. If you are prone to ankle injuries, it is a good idea to change your chosen activity. For instance, if you run every day and notice you have ankle injuries a lot, you need to stop running and walk instead. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can lose just as much weight with walking as you can with running. Walking may be boring, so the person will continue to run and suffer the consequences of developing arthritis.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. The ligaments in the ankle help keep the bones in place. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ligaments <\/a>connect bone to bone. It allows the bones to keep their shape. If the ankle becomes sprained, it knocks the joints out of place. It\u2019ll cause the person to be unable to bear weight on their foot.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order for the bones to get back into place is with physical therapy. Physical therapists will give the patient exercises to do to strengthen their joints so that they can bear weight on their feet again. Once you strengthen your ankle ligaments, you\u2019ll need to take steps to prevent injuring them again. You need to learn how to properly land on your feet when jumping. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same thing applies to when you\u2019re running. Also, wearing proper footwear for your chosen activity makes a whole lot of difference. It is a good idea to change your footwear often to prevent ankle injuries.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Stabilizing the joints is something you need to know about ankle ligaments. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ligaments are made of soft tissue, which connects the bones<\/a>. The bones are held together with a bone to bone. As stated before, once the bones are injured, they are unable to stabilize you. You\u2019re unable to walk. In order to stabilize your ankle ligaments, strengthening again is the only way.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Physical therapy will give you exercises to do at home and in the office. When your joints aren\u2019t stabilized, it can cause you to fall and injure other parts of your body. Whenever you walk on your foot, your ankle will hurt. In order to avoid feeling pain in the ankle area, you\u2019ll need to use crutches. Don\u2019t try to stretch the ankle while it\u2019s injured because it won\u2019t do any good. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people will still walk on an injured ankle, but whenever they try to do their physical activity, the pain will be felt.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Sprains occur in the lateral ligaments is something you would want to know. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The lateral ligaments on the outside of the ankle are where most ankle sprains occur. The lateral ligament is attached to the fibula<\/a>.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as you notice a sprain it is a good idea to place an ice pack over it. Place the ice pack over the sprain for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day. You\u2019ll start to feel the pain and swelling go away. The lateral ligament will begin healing and the bone to bone connection will develop. You\u2019ll be able to get relief and walk on your foot again without pain from the ankle area. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only thing you\u2019ll need to do is to prevent it from happening again. Sports athletes are prone to ankle injuries, so it\u2019s highly unlikely they\u2019ll stop playing because of a sprain. They\u2019ll go back to playing their sport once the sprain has healed.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Tears in ankle ligaments can lead to other issues. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ankle ligament can suffer tears and cause instability after the initial injury<\/a>. Over time, this instability can cause damage to the bones and cartilage of the joint of the ankle. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to take care of the sprain as soon as you realize you have one.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is a tear, you may need to seek medical treatment because surgery may be required to fix it. Since you\u2019ll be suffering from instability, you\u2019ll need crutches. If you do try to walk on your own, you could fall or you\u2019ll need to lean on something to catch your balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ankle ligament will continue to tear if nothing is done about it. The more it tears that occur, it will cause you to have surgery when you do seek treatment. The bones will become weak as well.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Walking on uneven surfaces can affect your ankle ligaments. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Walking <\/a>on uneven surfaces can cause you to twist your foot out in a way that could cause an ankle sprain. You may not even notice that you\u2019re twisting your foot out until you get home and notice your ankle hurts.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be difficult to find places to walk that are completely even, especially when sidewalks are sometimes uneven. Some people who walk tend to walk on the side of the street instead of on the sidewalk, but sometimes parts of the street are uneven as well. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s possible, going to the gym and exercising on the treadmill is the best. That doesn\u2019t say too much because once you leave the gym, the surface that you walk on could be uneven. Soak your feet in cold water after walking on an uneven surface will prevent you from damaging your ankle ligaments.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Most ankle ligaments can be healed without surgery. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even ligament tears can be healed without surgery. Ankle surgeries <\/a>are rare, but when an ankle injury is a severe surgery is the best course of action. Surgery is usually needed when rehabilitation doesn\u2019t help. After surgery, rehabilitation is given again.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ankle ligaments can get stronger through exercises performed in rehabilitation. At rehabilitation, the exercises performed won\u2019t use resistance. Most of the exercises are simple. Resistance bands are used once the pain goes away. The exercises can be performed at home as well. Always listen to the physical therapist on what things to do while at home. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t do anything that will cause your ankle more pain or it to swell. When you\u2019re not exercising the ankle ligaments, it\u2019s best to rest the foot. Once your ankle heals, take steps to prevent it from happening again. That way you won\u2019t have to go through the process of suffering from a swollen ankle and pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Peroneal Tendonitis Affects the Ankle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Peroneal tendonitis <\/a>describes a condition affecting the ligament that passes through the ankle joint, to the outside of the foot. People may experience this condition due to numerous factors, but the most common being overtraining, the use of incorrect footwear, and walking on cold surfaces.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affected individuals experience shooting pain occurring at the underside of the ankle. This pain occurs when they place pressure on the heel during footstrike while running or walking. Therefore, something as simple as walking can provide a significant amount of pain to the affected individual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many people think that the peroneal tendon is the source of the problem, it’s often the case that the affected individual has issues with their calf muscle. The tension in the calf presents pain symptoms and the onset of tendonitis. It’s possible to reverse this condition through the use of physiotherapy and stretching to relieve the tension in the calf muscle.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Bone Spurs in the Ankle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we age, the bones start to leach calcium <\/a>deposits, resulting in the onset of the development of bone spurs. The spurs, also known as osteophytes, appear as small bumps on the heel, under the surface of the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Osteophytes create significant amounts of pain when walking on the affected joint. In some cases, the patient may develop multiple bone spurs on the same heel. The development of osteophytes is typically associated with the aging process. Many seniors over 65-years old, have to learn to live with the symptoms of pain caused by this condition. In some cases, osteophytes may produce symptoms of severe pain and discomfort. As a result, the patient requires the use of an assistive walking device to get around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The development of bone Spurs may also place pressure on the plantar fascia, the ligament running between the heel bone on the base of the toes. As a result, the patient might find that they start to develop a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This form of tendonitis is incredibly painful, and if not treated, timeously, may result in a permanent condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Achilles Tendonitis Affects the Ankle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Achilles tendon<\/a> is the largest ligament in the human body, starting at the heel, and ending below the base of the calf muscle. When the ligament becomes inflamed, it leads to a condition known as Achilles tendonitis. People who are suffering from this condition may experience pain symptoms in the Achilles when walking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This form of tendonitis typically occurs in runners that are preparing for a marathon. Runners consistently increase their mileage day-by-day to improve their fitness and stamina. Unfortunately, this strategy may result in damage to the plantar fascia, and the Achilles tendon, resulting in tendonitis in these ligaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a runner experiences the onset of Achilles tendonitis, they need to rest to recover the functionality of the ligament. Should they decide to continue training, their symptoms will progress until it reaches a chronic stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, the use of anti-inflammatories and over-the-counter painkillers may help to reduce the inflammation. However, rest is the only sure cure for this condition, and taking time off from training will help to curb the effects of tendonitis.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. The Ankle Consists of Three Bones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The foot contains over 33-joints, 26-Bones, as well as 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Damage to any of the constituents of the foot may result in severe pain in the affected individual, and recovery may take a lot longer than other areas of the body. People who experience breaks in the foot may deal with a recovery lasting for up to six months to a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ankle is a complex joint consisting of four bones. The talus lies underneath the ankle, while the fibula is on the outside, and the tibia on the inside. These bones allow for the extension and flexion of the foot, providing the joint with a full range of motion. When we experience damage to any of these bones in the joint, it affects mobility <\/a>and may result in the onset of pain symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below the ankle, you will find the subtalar joint which provides a side-to-side movement of the foot. Damage to any of the four major bones in the ankle joint may result in symptoms of extreme pain when walking. Depending on the extent of the injury the person may require rest to recover the joint pain and severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the bones.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. Ankle Injuries are the Most Common Injury in the US<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ankle injuries account for almost 20-percent of all sports injuries incurred by athletes and the United States. In total, there are over 2-million ankle injuries every year, and these injuries may occur in both athletes and sedentary individuals that do not play sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may surprise you to learn that the second leading cause of ankle injuries after sports, is the use of improper footwear such as high heels. According to research conducted by the University of Alabama, between the years of 2002 and 2012, there were an estimated 120,355 ankle injuries reported to US emergency services, due to injury with high heels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies also show that the damage is more common in women in their early 20s. Research from the College of podiatry indicates that many women report foot pain after an hour of wearing high heels, with some detailing pain <\/a>symptoms after just 10-minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women that wear high heels should remove their shoes after work and swap them for comfortable footwear to avoid ankle injuries. Sportspeople an athlete can protect the ankle by wearing a compression sleeve that adds extra stability to the joint.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Don’t Walk-Off an Injury<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you watch a game of soccer on TV, you may see a player experience an ankle injury due to a foul by the opposition. The player may roll around on the floor, clutching the ankle while showing signs of extreme pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, it’s surprising when the player chooses to stand up and walk after injury. The player may limp for the first minute or two, and then all of a sudden break into a run – as if they never sustained the damage in the first place. Professional soccer players are paid to take risks in both training and competition. Leaving the field due to a minor ankle injury could cost them their contract with the club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when it comes to the real world, you should never try to walk-off an ankle injury. After experiencing trauma due to injury, the ankle inflames and produces symptoms of swelling <\/a>and pain. The signs of pain and inflammation provide you with an indicator that you need to rest the joint. Failing to listen to your body may result in a worsening of your condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>