Ankle Impingement

Tissues in the ankle joint can become trapped between bones in the ankle. This is known as impingement and occurs when the ankle is bent fully up or down. Posterior impingement is at the back of the ankle and is more common in ballet dancers.

Anterior impingement is at the front of the ankle and can occur from a bad or repeated ankle sprains as the ligaments thicken and get pinched between the bones (tibia and talus bone).

Symptoms of anterior

Pain at the front or side of the ankle often following an ankle sprain.
Weakness in the ankle.
Pain when the ankle is forced or passively moved into dorsi flexion (upwards).

Symptoms of posterior

Pain at the back of the ankle.
Pain which is worse at the end of the movement when the foot is pointed down (plantarflexion).
Pain when going up onto the toes.
An X-ray can show up any bony spurs on the talus (heel bone) and end of the tibia (shin bone).