Hi there, Art here at ATLPhysio. Welcome to my blog!
It was first thought that Michael Jordan had fractured his ankle during a basketball match in fact he had fractured a bone in his foot called the navicular bone. The navicular bone is in the midfoot and is not a common fracture seen in the lower limb.
Ankle fractures and sprains are common in the lower limb more so on the outside or lateral aspect of the ankle. Fractures on the outside or lateral aspect of the ankle have a classification known as Weber A, B and C.
WEBER A
So, what is the weber A fracture? This is a small break (fracture) of the ankle. There are many different types of fractures around the ankle and a Weber A fracture is a simple fracture at the bottom part of the fibula bone on the outer part of the ankle. This break or fracture is minor and does not require an operation or a plaster cast to treat it successfully. The wearing of a boot may be administered along with crutches, but the boot is only worn for comfort and may be taken off at night. it is important to put some weight through the joint to maintain healthy bones.
WEBER B
What is a Weber B fracture? This fracture is again on the outside of the ankle, but the fracture is in line with the ankle joint or the fracture involves the ankle joint. This fracture can be stable or unstable depending on your consultation if the fracture is stable then a boot and crutches will be administered and does not require an operation. If the fracture is diagnosed has been unstable then an operation will be necessary generally a pin or plate and screws are used to stabilise the fracture.
WEBER C
The Weber C fracture is often unstable, and this instability necessitates an operation generally reduced by pins plates or screws. Operations for stabilising fractures with pins and plates is commonly known as an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF)
When the ankle joint is immobilised, and the patient is sent away with crutches muscles will get weaker the ankle joint and the foot will become stiffer, so it is important once the fracture has healed it is important to get the ankle joint foot mobility and muscles working and moving back to normal.
Pound for pound I believe the calf muscle or gastrocnemius that is the muscle at the back of the lower leg to be one of the strongest in the body. Quite often patience that have been immobilised for long periods of time develop habits and these habits can be quite difficult to break.
Habits as in limping! And if the limp is a habit the way I test to see if it is a habit or be it mechanical or muscle weakness is simple, I get my patients to walk backwards. If they can walk backwards without limping, I know that the limp is a habit. If the patient limps walking backwards then know it is a mechanical problem or muscle weakness.
BALANCE CHALLENGE
If you have had an ankle fracture or sprain you will need to do some balancing exercises. How did you get on with my other balance challenges?
My next balance challenge is standing on one leg and swinging the arms backwards or forwards like doing front or back crawl as in swimming try it for 10 seconds it is quite difficult you will find younger people better at this than the older generation.
Conditions or problems that are difficult to treat and treat successfully. Remember I listed 6.
- Low back pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Planter fasciitis
- Patella femoral pain
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow.
Over the weeks I will explain what goes on, giving you my self-help hints and tips to ease that pain and get you back to your optimum health and fitness.
Remember stay safe, be well see you again soon.