Ankle Tendons
Ankle Tendons And Tendon Injuries
Ankle tendons connect muscles to bones in the ankles. Altogether, in each foot and ankle there are over 100 ankle tendons, muscles and ligaments, the latter connecting bones to other bones plus, 33 joints. One has to marvel at the complexity of the foot and ankle, especially when one considers the functions the ankles and feet perform under so much weight and pressure. Ankle tendons, working in concert with bones and muscles provide propulsion, balance, and stability as we move around.
Types Of Tendons - The best known of the ankle tendons is the Achilles tendon, the largest tendon in the ankle and foot, and the tendon that connects the calf muscle in the back of the lower leg to the heel. The calf muscle - Achilles tendon combination enables us to jump, run, climb stairs and raise up on our toes. Other ankle tendons are the Peroneus Logis and Peroneus Brevis tendons, the Flexor Hallucis tendon, the Flexor Digitorum Longue tendon, the Tibialis Anterior and Posterior tendons, and several others which run from the muscles of the lower leg, through the ankle, to the sides and soles of the foot and to the toes.
While the function of the Achilles tendon has been noted, the other ankle tendons mentioned provide both lateral stability and structural integrity to the foot and ankle.
Ankle injuries can affect tendons, ligaments, muscles, and of course bones. When ankle tendons are involved, the type of injury is most often called an ankle sprain. There are three classes of ankle sprains, characterized by three levels of severity of injury to a tendon.
A Class I ankle sprain may stress tendons and muscles but usually does no significant damage to either. Pain and swelling tend to be minimal, and there is seldom any loss of mobility, or if there is, it usually quite temporary. Treatment for a Class I sprain will usually consist of rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE), although the ankle is usually able to bear weight. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to help counteract pain and swelling, and some may find the use of crutches handy, although they may not be needed for long.
A Class II ankle sprain involves a partial tear of one of the tendons, and is usually accompanied by moderate pain and some swelling. One's mobility may be affected, depending upon which tendon or tendons have been damaged. The RICE treatment is used in this case as well, and a cast may be required, in many cases an air cast being sufficient. In any event, rigid support of the ankle is usually a requirement. Crutches will usually have to be used until the ankle can be subjected to weight and motion without pain, which may take several weeks. Rehabilitation therapy will be needed as soon as the pain subsides so that the joints involved can be strengthened. If this does not happen, the likelihood of a repeat injury is greater.
A Class III ankle sprain usually involves a completed tear of a tendon. Pain and swelling will usually be much more severe, and the person afflicted may not be able to place any pressure at all on the ankle, resulting in a severe loss of mobility. Aside from initial RICE treatment to relieve pain and swelling, the person suffering a Class III sprain will most certainly have to have the ankle placed in a cast, and may face surgery to repair the torn tendon. Whether or not surgery is necessary can greatly depend upon which tendons have been affected. A torn Achilles tendon for example will almost always require surgical repair, and it appears that surgery is in general a more effective means of treating this severest of sprains than simply putting the ankle in a cast.