Our feet provide a strong foundation and support daily movements like walking, running and jumping. Long term wear and tear can lead to arthritis in the big toe joint. This is often referred to as Hallux Rigidus. A patient suffering from this condition experiences pain in the big toe region under any external stress and can severely restrict mobility.
The Achilles tendon is the strongest and thickest tendon in the human body, with a length of 20 to 25 cm and a width of about 5 cm. It connects our calf muscle to the heel bone in the lower ankle. When the calf muscles flex, the tendon transfers the power from the lower leg to the heel. This mechanism allows us to stand on our feet and perform complex movements.
The ankle joint is a complex connection between the leg and tarsal bones. The central ankle bone provides a strong base for both parts of the ankle. A large number of ligaments and connective tissue capsules bind the bones together. The elasticity in the ligaments allow for ease of movement and help stabilize the ankle joint.
The ligaments in the ankle are elastic, i.e. they stretch within a limit to allow for short term expansion of joints (stretching). In a supination trauma, ligaments have been excessively stretched due to abnormal amounts of stress. Bending of the foot inwards can overload the ligaments, which leads to severe pain and restricted mobility of the joint.
Ligaments are connective tissue fibers that determine the range of movement in the joint. Movements beyond the natural range of motion (such as rolling your ankle) can result in painful ligament extensions.
The ankle is a complex and delicate structure, instrumental to movement in the lower part of the human body. Excessive stress or movement beyond the body’s natural limitations can result in a sprained ankle causing damage to the joint, the joint capsule or the ligaments in the ankle.
