There are three bones make up the ankle joint. The tibia, also known as the shinbone, the fibula, which is the smaller bone of the lower leg, and the Talus, which is a small bone that sits between the heel bone (calcaneus) and the tibia and fibula. When an ankle is broken, it usually involves the injury of the ankle joint and the syndesmosis joint, which is the joint between the Tibia and the Fibula.
There are many different ways for you to experience a break in your ankle. It can be the result of something as serious as a car accident or something as simple as a misstep walking down the stairs. The severity of a broken ankle or broken foot varies from person to person, depending on the situation. Fractures can range from tiny cracks in your bones to breaks that pierce your skin.
What Factors Can Put You at a Higher Risk of Breaking Your Ankle?
1. Playing Any High Impact Sport
Participating in sports like basketball, football, and gymnastics can significantly increase your chances of breaking your ankle. Not only are you moving rapidly in different directions, you may also have to deal with a high amount of stress on your body for long periods of time.
2. Using Poor Form or Faulty Equipment When Training
You may not think about it much, but the form you use when you’re working out is really important. A lot of people fall victim to injuries that could be easily avoided if they practiced proper form when working out.
Also, the equipment you use matters greatly. Making sure you have fresh running shoes when your old ones are worn out and using up-to-date workout equipment can do wonders for your fitness level and your safety.
3. Greatly Increasing Your Activity Level Suddenly
It’s important that you slowly build into an intense training routine. Going all in too early significantly increases your chance of experiencing an injury. Worst of all, this can make it harder for you to train in the long run. That’s why it’s important that you take it easy when you’re just starting out or after taking a long break.
4. Working in Hazardous Environments
Working in hazardous environments can also increase the chances of you experiencing a break. Places like construction sites are full of danger so it’s important that you take it easy and be careful in places like these to avoid something serious.
6. The Natural Effects of Aging
As you grow older, one of the changes that your body will go through is a reduction in bone density. This makes it easier for your bones to fracture and break. Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle can help fight against this, but you should still be careful the older you get.
Want to Determine Whether You Have a Fractured Ankle? It’s Time to Ask Yourself a Few Questions
– Did you hear a cracking sound when it happened?
If you have a fracture, you might have heard a crack.
– Does your ankle look deformed or misshapen?
Swelling is a symptom of a fracture; however, if your ankle looks deformed and twisted at an odd angle, it’s most likely because a bone is broken.
– Can you feel any sensation around your ankle?
If you do not feel any sensation or tingling around your ankle, it is most likely broken.
– Can you locate the pain?
If your ankle is sensitive to you directly touching the ankle bone, you probably have a fracture.
– Do you see any bruising?
Blood from your blood vessels leaks and creates bruises as it spreads to the flesh and muscle. It is a common sign of an ankle fracture.
Contact Our Office
To be completely sure, you should visit a doctor to obtain an X-ray to determine the severity of your situation. Contact Advanced Spine & Orthopedics to schedule yours with Dr. Kevin James today!
