Arthrosis of the ankle is a fairly serious disease that always requires a qualified approach to treatment. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to cope with this pathology. However, modern medicine offers effective ways to reduce the level of existing inflammation and slow the progression of the disease.
What is a disease?
The ankle connects the lower leg to the talus of the foot. Basically, it moves along the frontal axis, providing flexion and extension of the foot. Lateral movements are characterized by minimal amplitude.
Osteoarthritis of the ankle, the symptoms and treatment of which are directly related, is a process of sequential destruction of joint tissues. The pathology involves a violation of the usual structure of tissues, the death of part of the cells of the cartilage, the formation of cracks on their surface and compaction of bones. If you do not take the prescribed medication for arthrosis of the joints, it will be deformed and its normal operation will become really impossible.
The older a person is, the higher the probability that he will develop degenerative-destructive changes. The musculoskeletal system in this case is no exception. About 10% of the world's population over 40 is reported to suffer from osteoarthritis. In developed countries, the number of patients aged 65 years and older varies from 60 to about 80%.
classification
The first stage of the disease is characterized by a direct narrowing of the joint space, the cartilage itself swells and softens. Osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree is characterized by the fact that microcracks form in the places of greatest pressure of the joint heads, and significant protrusions form in places of least pressure. In the third and fourth stages, cartilage breaks, followed by the formation of cysts, the growth of so-called bone calluses (osteophytes). This flattens the condyles themselves, preventing the foot from making normal movements.
main reasons
Very rarely, the disease is primary, that is, it occurs spontaneously. Most often it is secondary and is explained by the influence of a number of factors. Osteoarthritis of the ankle can be caused by:
- Damage to the musculoskeletal system of the foot and the joint itself (flatfoot, hereditary connective tissue dysplasia).
- Post-traumatic arthrosis (dislocation, sprain, bruise).
- Inflammation of the immune nature.
- infectious injury.
- Various types of neurological disorders (osteochondrosis, neuritis).
- Metabolic diseases (obesity, rickets, gout).
The causes of ankle arthrosis are often the constant wearing of high-heeled shoes. The unnatural position of the foot provokes a multiple increase in the load on the ankle itself. Athletes, dancers and those whose weight significantly exceeds the standard indicators also belong to the risk group.
How does osteoarthritis of the ankle manifest itself? symptoms and treatment
First, patients note painful discomfort when trying to stand fully on their feet, as well as the appearance of a characteristic crunch during movements. Over time, the pain worsens and persists even at rest. The restriction of foot mobility along different axes is gradually increased. The joint itself increases, the foot becomes slightly curved. In the advanced stages of the pathology, pain in the knee and hip joints can also be felt.
Conservative therapy
Most pain-relieving drugs belong to the group of so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
These drugs allow you to get rid of pain, but they also have some disadvantages. The thing is that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have an extremely negative effect on the gastric mucosa. For example, with prolonged use in patients, gastritis often worsens and even an ulcer appears. That is why the reception of such funds is prescribed in short courses in order to minimize the negative consequences.
Local treatment of the affected area involves reducing inflammation in the joint. Thus, it is possible to slow down the progression of the disease, that is, to keep the inflammatory process under constant control. Such therapy is prescribed if the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was ineffective.
Local treatment involves the use of gels that contain anesthetic components in their composition. However, this effort is fully justified. Ointments and gels have an excellent therapeutic effect, especially in combination with other drugs.
Some patients are prescribed chondroprotectors. They help cartilage to recover and significantly improve tissue synthesis.
surgical treatment
Unfortunately, it is far from always possible to overcome ankle arthrosis with medication alone. Sometimes medication is ineffective. In such a situation, the doctor decides on surgical intervention. The surest way to stop the degenerative process is arthroscopy.
This intervention is performed with a special instrument that is inserted into the affected area through micro-incisions. With this operation you can remove all bone growths.
exercise therapy
Exercise therapy is prescribed for many types of arthrosis. Especially such exercises are effective in the post-traumatic variant of the disease. Therapeutic exercises for osteoarthritis are primarily aimed at restoring lost muscle tone, as well as increasing the range of motion in the ankle itself.
First of all, such exercises are selected that require a minimum load. They are performed in the supine position (e. g. circular movements in the foot). Then the lesson becomes more difficult. The exercises are performed while sitting (rolling your feet without lifting your heels off the floor). Note that in each case, a set of exercises is selected individually by a doctor.
prevention
First of all, experts strongly recommend avoiding injuries and mechanical damage to the joint. To do this, you should choose shoes with stable heels and use special protective equipment when doing sports.
Controlling body weight is very important because obesity is often the main reason for the development of ankle osteoarthritis. Symptoms and treatment of this pathology should not be ignored. If primary symptoms appear, you should seek qualified help and not try to solve the problem yourself.
Experts also recommend following a diet high in protein foods. You should avoid excessively salty and fatty foods and alcohol for a while.
Conclusion
In this article we have explained in as much detail as possible what constitutes osteoarthritis of the ankle. Symptoms and treatment, causes and prevention are just some of the topics for which detailed answers are given here. Note that the effectiveness of therapy of any disease depends not only on its specific stage of development and the presence of concomitant health problems, but also on competent compliance with all medical recommendations.