Arthritis Osteoarthritis Knee Osteoarthritis Ankle Osteoarthritis By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice LinkedIn Twitter Carol Eustice is a writer who covers arthritis and chronic illness. She is the author of "The Everything Health Guide to Arthritis." Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 30, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Ozeri, MD Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD LinkedIn David Ozeri, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist from Tel Aviv, Israel specializing in arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and biologic therapies. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Print Osteoarthritis can affect the joints in any part of the body, including the ankle. Three bones make up the ankle joint: the lower end of the tibia (shinbone), the fibula (small bone of the lower leg), and the talus (the weight-bearing bone that fits into the socket formed by the tibia and fibula). Early diagnosis and treatment can help people with ankle osteoarthritis manage their symptoms. Guido Mieth / Getty Images Symptoms of Ankle Osteoarthritis The primary symptom associated with osteoarthritis in the ankle joint is pain. Initially, pain is present with movement or activity (walking, climbing stairs, etc.) As osteoarthritis progresses, pain is present even during inactivity or rest. Other symptoms of ankle osteoarthritis include: Joint stiffness and swelling Lost flexibility and joint movement The noted symptoms can cause difficulty walking, especially with weight-bearing, which may even cause slips and falls. Cause of Ankle Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease. With this type of arthritis, cartilage—a tough but flexible tissue that covers the ends of the bones forming a joint—wears away gradually. Most cases of ankle osteoarthritis are related to a previous ankle injury. The injury may have occurred years before there is evidence of osteoarthritis in the ankle. Injury can damage the cartilage directly or alter the mechanics of the ankle joint (how the joint works). Besides injury, there are other risk factors that may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. Obesity and family history are risk for osteoarthritis. Being overweight has been associated with osteoarthritis, and it can add strain on weight-bearing joints, including the ankle. Genetics may also play a role. For example, being flat-footed may affect how you walk and add stress to the ankle joint. Diagnosis of Ankle Osteoarthritis Diagnosis of ankle osteoarthritis usually begins with the patient's medical history. The patient should make their doctor aware of any past ankle injuries and if there is a family history of osteoarthritis. A physical examination can reveal an abnormal range of motion in the ankle joint, as well as pain, swelling, or tenderness around the ankle joint. Crepitus (a grinding sound as the joint is moved) suggests the ends of the bones that form the joint are rubbing against each other. During the physical examination, an assessment of bone alignment while walking (gait analysis) may be performed. The analysis also measures the patient's stride and tests the strength of the ankle and foot. X-rays help determine the severity of ankle damage and can help doctors estimate the amount of cartilage that remains. X-rays or other imaging studies can also detect joint space narrowing and misshapen joints. CT scans or MRIs are used to evaluate ankle joint damage, as well. Treatment of Ankle Osteoarthritis Treatment options for ankle osteoarthritis are usually aimed at controlling pain and limiting motion that provokes the pain. Nonsurgical treatment approaches are tried first. If unsuccessful, surgical options are considered. Nonsurgical treatment options include: Medications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) AFO (an ankle-foot orthosis or ankle brace) Physical therapy Losing weight Steroid injection into the joint Viscosupplementation Surgical options for ankle osteoarthritis include: Arthroscopic surgery Ankle arthrodesis (fusion) Ankle replacement 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Ankle Osteoarthritis. U.S. National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus. Osteoarthritis Q&A. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Osteoarthritis. Bestwick-Stevenson T, Wyatt LA, Palmer D, et al. Incidence and risk factors for poor ankle functional recovery, and the development and progression of posttraumatic ankle osteoarthritis after significant ankle ligament injury (Sali): the SALI cohort study protocol. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):362. Jiang, L., Zhu, X., Rong, J., Xing, B., Wang, S., Liu, A., Chu, M., & Huang, G. Obesity, osteoarthritis and genetic risk: The rs182052 polymorphism in the ADIPOQ gene is potentially associated with risk of knee osteoarthritis. Bone & joint research. 2018;7 (7): 494–500. doi:10.1302/2046-3758.77.BJR-2017-0274.R1 U.S. National Library of Medicine. Osteoarthritis. UpToDate. Clinical assessment of walking and running gait. Peterfy CG, DiCarlo JC, Olech E, Bagnard MA, Gabriele A, Gaylis N. Evaluating joint-space narrowing and cartilage loss in rheumatoid arthritis by using MRI. Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14(3):R131. doi: 10.1186/ar3861 Khlopas H, Khlopas A, Samuel LT, et al. Current concepts in osteoarthritis of the ankle: review. Surg Technol Int. 2019;35:280-294. PMID: 31237341. Siemieniuk RAC, Harris IA, Agoritsas T, et al. Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee arthritis and meniscal tears: a clinical practice guideline. BMJ. Published online May 10, 2017:j1982. Ferguson, Z., Anugraha, A., Janghir, N., & Pillai, A. Ankle arthrodesis: A long term review of the literature. Journal of orthopaedics. 2019;16(5): 430–433. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2019.08.004 Usuelli FG, D’Ambrosi R, Manzi L, Maccario C, Indino C. Treatment of ankle osteoarthritis with total ankle replacement through a lateral transfibular approach. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments). 2018;(131):e56396. doi: 10.3791/56396 Editorial Process Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit