According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, there are numerous causes of foot and ankle pain. Some causes of foot and ankle pain are more serious than others and require the immediate attention of a health care professional. Other causes are less serious, although they still may require the services of a qualified practitioner to diagnose and treat the problem. Common causes of foot and ankle pain include fractures, sprains and strains and medical conditions.
Fractures
Fractures of the foot and ankle, while less common than other causes of foot pain, occur in 184 per 100,000 persons each year, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. An ankle fracture occurs when one or more of the bones that compose the ankle break into pieces. The greater the number of bones fractured or broken around the ankle, the greater the instability of the ankle. Ligamentous damage, swelling and inflammation often occurs with ankle fractures. The severity of foot and ankle sprains varies considerably. Fractures involving a simple break in one bone may not preclude a person from walking, whereas multiple fractures may disrupt joint alignment and keep a person from performing his usual weight-bearing activities for several months. Common causes of foot and ankle fractures include twisting the ankle, rolling the ankle, tripping, falling and blunt force trauma. Trauma may be experienced during sports activities, during a motor vehicle accident or by accident around the home or in the workplace.
Sprains & Strains
Foot and ankle sprains and strains, while generally less severe than fractures, can be both painful and debilitating. Sprains involve damage to a ligament, whereas strains involve damage to a muscle. Both involve a stretching or tearing of the fibers that make up the tissue. According to the Podiatry Channel website, approximately 85 percent of ankle sprains and strains involve inversion injuries, in which the foot rapidly and forcefully rolls inward causing damage to the tissues--especially the anterior talofibular ligament--on the lateral or outside edge of the foot and ankle. Eversion injuries, where the foot rolls outward and damages the tissues on the medial or inside edge of the foot and ankle, are less common. Sprains and strains are graded on a scale of one to three, which roughly corresponds to the designations mild, moderate or severe. Grade three sprains and strains are the most severe, and they involve the complete rupture or tearing of the tissue. Most foot and ankle sprains are treated using rest, ice, compression and elevation, although other manual techniques, such as gentle massage, also may be appropriate.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions can cause foot and ankle pain, and require intervention by a qualified health professional to help resolve symptomatic complaints and treat the cause of the problem. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, medical conditions causing foot and ankle pain include arthritic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout, diabetes, obesity and pregnancy. the medical center also notes that taking certain medications, including calcitonin and hypertension medication, can cause foot swelling and pain. According to The Foot & Ankle Institute--a Fayetteville, North Carolina-based center for medicine, trauma and reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle--footwear is a significant contributing factor in the development of numerous foot and ankle deformities and medical conditions. Women who wear high heels and narrow shoes with pointy toe boxes may be particularly susceptible to foot deformities and foot pain.
