Ankle Impingement
Ankle impingement is a lesser talked about condition, but is common in dancers who spend a lot of hours of training in releve, eleve and/or forced arch, i.e. in a position in which the foot and ankle are pointed fully downward. It can occur due to excess bony growth on the back of the heel or as a result of soft tissue abutment in the back of the heel when the foot and ankle are fully pointed. Your dance and performing arts medicine specialist can assist with determining whether the cause is bony or soft-tissue related or both. You may also need some additional imaging studies to confirm or disconfirm a bony block to your ankle movement.
This condition is often treated with rehabilitation initially. If pain remains persistent and severe, injection or surgery to remove the excess bone may be required. During rehabilitation, a lot of focus is on assessing and addressing any alignment or technique issues that may be contributing to the impingement, as well as strengthening the muscles of the foot, lower leg, and knee or hip. Strengthening from the bottom to the top can be crucial in re-training the body to move efficiently and effectively with the best possible alignment and form, thus helping to remove the excess stress on your tissues locally.
