Impingement and soccer ankle

Impingement and soccer ankle

Ankle impingement syndrome most often affects the anterior part of the upper ankle, but can also occur at the rear of the upper ankle and in the lower ankle. A distinction is made between soft tissue and bony impingement, although the two often occur in combination. In most cases, painful entrapment after recurrent ankle injuries occurs due to the presence of capsule and ligament scarring. The scars cause painful pinching between the bony structures when in dorsiflexion. Impingement can also arise following recurrent microtraumas of the ankle joint, which can lead to both soft tissue hypertrophy and the formation of bony spurs. Such symptoms often arise on the shooting leg in soccer players; thus the condition is sometimes dubbed “soccer ankle”. If impingement is suspected, a diagnostic exploration under local anesthesia can be carried out in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Pain relief can, on the one hand, help confirm the diagnosis, and on the other, can simulate the result of ankle arthroscopy with impingement resection. After the operation, it is not necessary to immobilize or restrict exercise, and movement therapy is initiated at an early stage in order to maintain the improved mobility and prevent renewed scarring.