Lower Leg Ankle Injuries

The lower leg is made up of the tibia and fibula bones. These bones connect with the talus of the foot to form the ankle joint. The ankle has three key ligaments for support on the lateral side and one ligament that connects to four different places on the medial side. When a person sprains their ankle, often these ligaments are stretched, and therefore create an unstable ankle joint which will be prone to re-injury. The lower leg has a major tendon called the Achilles tendon coming from the gastrocnemius (calf) and soleus muscles and inserts into the heel. This tendon is important for the movement of the ankle. This is often a major site for injury and once injured, can take a long time to recover.

Common Injuries for this area include:

• Fractures
• Shin Splints
• Calf Strains
• Ankle Strains
• Ankle Sprains

These symptoms are often treated with TENS, IFC and ultrasound therapy. Strengthening and stretching exercises may be encouraged as well. The use of proper shoes, with proper support could benefit some symptoms. Manual and Massage therapy could also potentially be used to treat these class of injuries.