Posterior Ankle Pain
Posterior Ankle Pain can have many causes and the pain can vary. Elite Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Centre can provide you with a diagnosis and management of pain in the back of the ankle.
Cause of Posterior ankle pain:
Posterior ankle impingement-
this condition is common among athletes such as ballet dancers. This is associated with tenderness in the posterolateral aspect of the ankle posterior to the peroneal tendon, especially with passive plantar flexion.
Symptoms
- Pain when on your feet
- Pain between the Achilles tendon and the outside of the ankle
- Unable to fully point your toes
- Stiffness, weakness, and swelling in the back of the ankle
- Bony prominence you can feel at the back of the ankle
Flexor halluces longus tenosynovitis-
this condition is associated with activity in which extreme plantar flexion is necessary. There may also be swelling and pain posterior to the medial malleolus. There is also triggering with toe flexion. Dorsiflexion of the big toe is less when the ankle is dorsiflexed.
Achilles tendonitis-
It is the result of irritation and inflammation due to overuse. There may also be pain, swelling, and tears within the tendon.
Symptoms
Pain when using the foot or ankle
Swelling
Stiffness, worst in the morning or at night
Decreased strength
Crunchy sound or feeling when using the tendon
Achilles tendon rupture-
Achilles tendons can become prone to rupture with age, lack of use, or aggressive exercise.
Symptoms
- Sudden snap in the lower calf
- Swelling at the back of the heel
- A loud crack or pop sound
- Severe pain is often described as being stabbed in the heel with a knife
- Limited walking ability
- Unable to point toes
Physiotherapy treatment includes:
Firstly Cryotherapy- to reduce pain.
Secondly Compression bandage or ankle binder- for reduction of swelling.
Stretching of the ankle- put your affected ankle over your contralateral thigh. And grab your affected heel with one hand and toes with the other hand. And pull your ankle towards you (dorsiflexion) and push the heel downward.
Plantar flexion stretch- now push your toe downward and pull your heel upwards. Also, do eversion and inversion stretch in the same position?
Strengthening exercise for ankle- active exercise, active resistive exercise with thera band.
Mobilization exercise- manual therapy, soft tissue mobilization, etc.
Deep transfer friction massage- to breaking adhesions.
Foam rolling- for calf and anterior leg.
Dry needling.
TENS + US Combo therapy.
High-intensity class 4 laser therapy.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy.
