Injuries of the ankle joint
The ligament structures of the foot are particularly often affected by injuries. A typical bending of the foot inwards or outwards can cause damage to the capsule ligament apparatus with tearing, stretching or tearing of the affected ligaments. Bony injuries, such as fractures of the outer or inner ankle, are possible, but rather rare.
With about 20% of all sports injuries, the ankle joint is very often affected by traumas of any kind. Compared to other joints, however, there is hardly any wear and tear in the ankle joint, as long as no trauma has occurred. Thus, the most common arthroses occur after ankle dislocation fractures or complex capsule-ligament injuries.
- Torn ligament in the ankle joint
- Ligament stretching in the ankle joint
- Cartilage damage in the ankle joint
- Inflammation of the ankle joint
- Ankle joint fracture
- Ankle Joint Arthrosis
Further joints of the tarsal/midfoot
The joint between the calcaneus and cuboid bone (Articulatio calcaneocuboidea) is an amphiarthrosis, i.e. a very strongly fixed joint in which hardly any movement is possible. This joint is also fixed by further tight ligaments. The tarsometatarsal joints (Articulationes tarsometatarsales) and the metatarsophalangeal joints (Articulationes intermetatarsales) are also amphiarthroses and therefore hardly moveable.
A distinction is made between metatarsophalangeal joints (Articulationes metatarsophalangae) and interphalangeal joints (Articulationes interphalangae). The metatarsophalangeal joints are ball-and-socket joints, but they are fixed by various ligaments and are therefore hardly movable. The middle and end joints are hinge joints and are somewhat more mobile.
Summary
The ankle is a functional unit consisting of: The ankle joint is strongly fixed by ligaments and therefore does not allow many different movements. Due to the high stress on the ankle joint, it must be very stable, which is guaranteed by the ligaments and capsule apparatus. However, since the outer and inner ankle do not lie within the joint capsule, they are very prone to injury.
Thus, most sports injuries in the area of the outer or inner ligaments are caused by twisting traumas. This can lead to tears, strains or stretching of the ligaments. Despite the high stress on the ankle joint, signs of wear and tear (arthrosis) without a previous serious injury are very rare.
- An upper ankle joint,
- A lower ankle joint and
- Further smaller joints between the individual metatarsal bones.
