Ankle/foot pathologies Flashcards
Gastroc strain
Strain to the medial head or musculotendinous junction
Pathology of gastroc strain
- more at risk of strain as it crosses 2 joints (knee and ankle)
- eccentric force applied to the muscle when knee is extended and ankle is dorsiflexed
- gastroc attempts to contract in an already lengthened position
Symptoms of gastroc strain
- sharp pain in back and leg
- swelling
- tenderness in point of injury
- stretching causing pain
Weber fracture
Fracture at the ankle joint based on the level of the frature
Types of weber fracture
Type A
- below level of syndesmosis (connection between distal ends of tibia and fibula)
- tibiofibular and deltoid ligaments intact
Type B
- at the level of the ankle joint
- tibiofibular syndesmosis intact
- medial malleolus may be fractured
Type C
- above the ;evel of the ankle joint
- tibiofibular syndesmosis injured
- medial malleolus fractured
Symptoms of an Weber fracture
- difficulty weight bearing
- pain at ankle joint
- swelling
- Loss of ROM at ankle joint
Treatment of a Weber fracture
- strengthening of muscles at ankle joint
- mobilisation of ankle joint
- passive mobilisation
Lateral ligament sprain of ankle
An inversion ankle sprain due to excessive inversion and plantar flexion of the ankle
Epidemiology of LL sprain
- most common in athletes
- highly common injury
Symptoms of LL sprain
- weight bearing
- pain in ankle area (outer part)
- swelling
Treatment of LL sprain
ROM exercises
- plantar flexion
- rotation of ankle
- stretch of the calf
Strengthening exercises
- resisted inversion and eversion
Proprioception
- balance ball/board
- sitting and standing
Outcome measure for LL sprain
Anterior drawer test - tests ATFL
- supine lying
ankle in 20 degrees flexion
- fibula held down
- hand under foot and calcaneus pulled anteriorly
- observing anterior translation of lateral aspect
Graded 0 to 3 in a scale of laxity
Pathology of LL sprain
- sprain of the ATFL ligament during inversion/plantar flexion
- Grades 1 to 3
