Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease which is characterized by progressive wear of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. Less common than osteoarthritis of the hand, hip or knee, osteoarthritis of the ankle can also wreak havoc and must be taken care of quickly. What are the warning symptoms? How to be sure of the diagnosis and what strategy to put in place?
Definition: osteoarthritis of the ankle, an uncommon inflammation
As the name suggests, ankle osteoarthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that affects the ankle joint. It is manifested by a progressive destruction of the cartilage which leads to pain and stiffness.
As the disease progresses, the bones may start to rub once morest each other, which exacerbates the pain and can lead to reduced mobility of the ankle or even a inability to move.
Pain, stiffness, swelling… What symptoms should alert?
As stated above, osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that progresses through painful flare-ups. It is these pains that most often lead patients to consult. In the beginning, osteoarthritis of the ankle manifests itself especially following an effort, then is relieved at rest. Over time, it can become permanent.
Along with pain, the joint is often stiff upon awakening or following a period of rest. A little movement is enough to regain mobility. Other symptoms may also occur:
- loss of flexibility and joint swelling;
- limitation of movements (flexion et extension) ;
- audible cracks at the ankle;
- hypersensitivity to pain (in case of slight pressure);
- joint discomfort (in case of temperature change);
- ankle deformity which leads to an imbalance in walking and can, for example, promote limping;
- etc.
What are the causes and risk factors of this joint degradation?
The ankle is the point of attachment between the horizontal axis of the foot and the vertical axis of the body. It is a highly stressed – and often abused – joint that supports up to five times our weight when running and three times when walking. The main causes and risk factors for osteoarthritis in this joint are:
- age osteoarthritis affects 3% of those under 45, 65% of those over 65 and 80% of those over 80;
- THE family history osteoarthritis;
- a overweight (obesity) that weighs on the joints;
- a overuse of the joints (intense sports or poorly conducted training, carrying heavy loads, repetitive movements, etc.);
- bone deformation resulting in misalignment;
- and joint trauma (repeated sprains, fractures or dislocations);
- the sedentary lifestylewhich decreases tone and muscle mass which protects the skeleton, but also leads to poor oxygenation of the cartilages;
- Some joint diseases such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.
Note: osteoarthritis of the ankle can also be infectious and come from joint inflammation caused by bacteria.
How to diagnose osteoarthritis of the ankle with certainty?
The first thing to do is to consult a doctor who will trace the history of your symptoms with you and carry out the clinical examination. During handling, he will check for the presence of pain, of ankle deformity or effusion. He may also notice the presence of crackles or of joint blockages.
If he deems it necessary, he may also prescribe additional radiological examinations to check the level of cartilage degradation, update growths or bony geodes (abnormal cavities in a bone).
In certain difficult cases, he can also prescribe a scintigraphy or one arthroscanner.
What can I do to stop the progression of osteoarthritis?
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop the progression of osteoarthritis. However, certain lifestyle habits can relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease:
- hold stable weight ;
- exercise to strengthen the muscles around the joints;
- adopt a healthy dietrich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins to partially reduce inflammation and improve joint health;
- avoid repetitive movements which can overload joints and make symptoms worse;
- use assistive devicessuch as crutches, canes, or braces, can help relieve pressure on joints and reduce pain;
- limit your physical exertion in case of painful flare-ups
What sports to avoid to protect your ankles?
It’s important to maintain good general physical condition and strengthen lower body muscles to protect joints.
But in case of fragility, to protect your ankles, it is better to avoid sports such as football, rugby or tennis, impact sports (boxing, judo, karate, etc.) or sliding sports (skateboarding, rollerblading, snowboarding, etc.) which increase the risk of injury to the ankle. Endurance sports such as running, cycling or triathlon are also not recommended.
You don’t have to completely avoid these sports. But at least ask your doctor for advice on be aware of the risks and precautions to put in place, such as wearing appropriate shoes and adopting a correct technique.
Ideally, prefer gentle activities such as swimming, yoga, aquabike, etc.
In video: “How to prevent osteoarthritis from getting worse? »
Treatment: how to treat osteoarthritis in the ankle?
Unfortunately, the dietary and dietary measures mentioned above are not always sufficient to relieve the symptoms of this type of osteoarthritis. It exists symptomatic treatments and surgical treatments.
Symptomatic treatments:
Most of the time it is drug treatments analgesics, or evenanti-inflammatories (in the event of a major crisis).
Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid can also be done in the ankle to limit pain.
And in case of ankle misalignment, it is possible to opt for Orthopedic sole which will limit damage.
Furthermore, physiotherapy sessions help maintain and/or improve the amplitude of the ankle and strengthen its musculature (therefore its joint stability). Phytotherapy or acupuncture can also be considered as a complement.
Surgical treatments:
Depending on the impact of osteoarthritis on the daily lives of patients, it is possible to consider a surgery :
- arthroscopic debridementwhich involves removing damaged or arthritic tissue from the ankle to reduce pain and improve function;
- arthrodesis (or joint fusion), which involves fusing the bones of the ankle, which can relieve pain but limit ankle mobility;
- or joint replacementwhich consists of replacing the damaged joint with a prosthesis and allows patients to maintain satisfactory ankle mobility.
