Ankle bursitis occurs when one or more of the bursae of the ankle joint becomes irritated and inflamed. This injury can arise either through overuse or via a traumatic injury. It can also arise as a result of another health condition such as arthritis.
The bursae are small fluid filled sacs that are located at various points in the ankle joint. They reduce friction between the bones of the ankle and adjacent tendons. In doing so, they lubricate the joint so that the bones can move freely during actions like standing, walking and running.
Ankle bursitis causes swelling and pain around the ankle, particularly when movement of the joint is attempted.
Treatment of ankle bursitis usually requires resting the ankle joint by refraining from activities that could stress it. This allows the bursae to recover naturally. To reduce the pain of the condition, doctors may also suggest using pain relief medication and icing the ankle.
The ankle is the point of intersection of four bones. These are:
The talus is located at the junction of the other three bones. Imagine wearing shoes with laces – the talus would be located close to the top of the laces.
The top of the talus fits into a socket formed by the two lower leg bones and its lower part fits into the heel bone.
The main bursa of the ankle joint is the retrocalcaneal bursa, which sits between the heel bone and Achilles tendon. Bursitis due to inflammation of this bursa is known as achilles tendon bursitis.
In addition, ankles that are subject to significant stress can develop two additional bursae:
Some of the things that can increase the risk of developing bursitis in the ankle joint include:
Usually, ankle bursitis symptoms tend to develop gradually. The first sign may be pain around the heel bone.
Other subsequent symptoms may include:
Diagnosis of ankle bursitis is usually done by way of physical examination. In other words, the diagnosis is usually made clinically. Imaging tests are not often needed. Doctors will check for visible indications of inflammation. They may also palpate (examine by touch) the ankle to determine precisely which areas hurt when ankle movement is attempted.
In some cases, a doctor may request an X ray to rule out an ankle fracture. An MRI may be requested in order to examine the bursa and check it for signs of swelling.
Fluid samples will be taken if the doctor suspects an infection. The purpose of the sample will be to determine the type of infection. This will then help the doctor to decide which antibiotics to use to treat the infection.
As with most soft tissue injuries, doctors will first try conservative non invasive treatment options. Often, conservative measures are all that are needed for the condition to heal. Conservative measures which can be tried include the following:.
If these measures do not work, additional medical advice should be sought.The physician may suggest a corticosteroid injection into the bursa as a way to combat inflammation.
It is advisable for a patient to see a doctor if their symptoms are not improving or worsening after 1-2 weeks of conservative treatment, if they have a high temperature, are feeling hot and shivery or if they are unable to move the affected joint. These signs and symptoms can mean that you have an infection that will need treatment with antibiotics.
If the ankle bursitis is thought to be caused by an infection of the ankle joint, doctors will probably opt for antibiotic use as a first option instead of the conservative measures listed above.
To reduce the risk of developing ankle bursitis, we would suggest the following:
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The McDavid Ankle Sleeve / 4-Way Elastic With Figure-8 Straps features 4-way stretch elastic material engineered for increased compression and fit without heat retention.
Level 2: Advanced Protection – Moderate support and relief from pain associated with arthritis, bursitis and tendonitis
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The McDavid Ankle Sleeve / 4-Way Elastic With Gel Buttresses provides support and relief from pain, swelling and inflammation due to tendonitis, arthritis or injury.
Level 2: Advanced Protection – Support and relief from pain, swelling and inflammation due to tendonitis, arthritis or injury
