Osteopathy for ankle complaints

Ankle complaints can significantly impact your daily life. Walking, exercising, working, or even just standing can become painful when you suffer from your ankle. Sometimes complaints arise suddenly after a twist or sprain. In other cases, they develop gradually due to overuse, wear and tear, or a change in walking pattern.

At Andromeda Center for Osteopathy, we look beyond just the site of the pain. Ankle complaints are often the result of multiple factors that influence the movement and load on the body. Therefore, we examine not only the ankle joint but also the foot, knee, hip, back, and other structures that may play a role.

With more than twenty years of experience, Marc van Leeuwen and Sten Bierens help adults, children, athletes, and pregnant women with a wide range of physical complaints. Personal attention, careful examination, and customized treatment are central to our approach.

What are ankle complaints?

Ankle complaints are issues that arise in or around the ankle joint. The complaints can be located on the inside, outside, front, or back of the ankle. They often involve pain, swelling, stiffness, or a sense of instability during movement.

The ankle forms an important connection between the leg and the foot. As a result, this joint has to process a lot of load daily. When muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, or joints function less effectively, complaints can arise. Often, an event such as trauma or injury precedes this, resulting in a reduced local load-bearing capacity.

Common symptoms of ankle complaints such as nerve entrapment or bursitis

People with ankle complaints often experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pain in the ankle
• Ankle pain while walking
• Swelling around the ankle joint
• Stiffness during movement
• Instability of the ankle
• Pain on the outside of the ankle
• Pain on the inside of the ankle
• A clicking or snapping sensation
• Reduced mobility
• Bruising after an injury
• Reduced strength while walking
• Feeling of uncertainty under load
• Pain at the back of the ankle
• Problems with the walking pattern

Some people also experience radiation to the foot or lower leg. Tendonitis, bursitis, nerve entrapment, or tarsal tunnel syndrome can also cause similar complaints.

How common are ankle complaints?

Ankle complaints are among the most common musculoskeletal issues. Every year, thousands of people deal with a twist, sprain, or other ankle injury.

Athletes have an increased risk of an ankle injury. However, we also see many complaints in people who stand for long periods during work, walk a lot, or have an abnormal foot position. Additionally, wear and tear, inflammation, or an old tear can cause long-term complaints.

What does the osteopath examine for ankle complaints?

Comprehensive intake

During the first appointment, we take ample time to discuss your ankle complaints. We look at the onset of the complaint, the nature of the pain, previous injuries, possible trauma, surgeries, sports activities, work load, and your general health. We also discuss any examinations previously performed by a doctor or physiotherapist. This information helps us to get a complete picture of your situation and of factors that may contribute to the onset and persistence of the complaints.

Physical examination

The intake is followed by a comprehensive physical examination. During this, we assess not only the ankle joint but also the foot, lower leg, knee, hip, and back. Additionally, we examine the mobility of joints and the stability of muscles and ligaments. We also look at your walking pattern and the way your body processes load. In this way, we get the most complete picture possible of the factors that may play a role in your ankle complaints.

Investigation into underlying factors

The cause of ankle complaints is not always at the location where the pain is felt. Therefore, our osteopaths also investigate factors that may indirectly influence the ankle. Think of old injuries, scar tissue, loss of movement, stress factors, reduced mobility, and disrupted movement chains. By viewing the body as a whole, we can better determine which factors contribute to the complaints. Based on all findings, we draw up a treatment plan that aligns with your personal situation. Thus, we offer expert osteopathic care close to home for people from the vicinity of Veldhoven, Valkenswaard, Bergeijk, and the surrounding region.