Arthritis Osteoarthritis Knee Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis Ankle: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Osteoarthritis of the Ankle: What You Need to Know 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 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 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 of the ankle is, like other forms of osteoarthritis, a condition that gets worse over time. Ankle osteoarthritis can occur in any of the three bones that 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). This article will go over what you should know about ankle osteoarthritis, including the symptoms of ankle osteoarthritis, how osteoarthritis in the ankle is diagnosed, and treatment for ankle osteoarthritis. Guido Mieth / Getty Images Anatomy of the Ankle Joint Symptoms of Ankle Osteoarthritis Pain is the primary symptom of osteoarthritis in the ankle joint. Initially, the pain is present with movement or activity (walking, climbing stairs, etc.) As osteoarthritis progresses, pain is felt even during inactivity or rest. Other symptoms of ankle osteoarthritis include: Joint stiffness and swelling Lost flexibility and joint movement Ankle osteoarthritis symptoms can cause difficulty walking, especially with weight-bearing, which may cause slips and falls. Is Arthritis Causing Your Ankle Pain—or Something Else? Causes 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, the following risk factors can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis in your ankle or in any other joint: Family history Joint misalignment Obesity Older age The Different Kinds of Arthritis Can Other Forms of Arthritis Affect the Ankle? Osteoarthritis of the ankle is common but it's not the only kind of arthritis that can affect the bones of the feet and ankles. Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis, may also affect the ankle. Injuries can also lead to osteoarthritis of the ankle. If a person hurts their ankle—for example, a break or bad sprain—they can also develop post-traumatic arthritis. How RA Affects Each Part of Your Body How Ankle Osteoarthritis Is Diagnosed 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 or popping 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. Is a Crackling Ankle Joint a Sign of Arthritis? Treating Ankle Osteoarthritis Treatment for ankle osteoarthritis is usually aimed at controlling pain and limiting motion that provokes the pain. Nonsurgical treatments for ankle osteoarthritis are tried first. If unsuccessful, surgical options for ankle osteoarthritis can be considered. Nonsurgical treatment options include: Medications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) or ankle brace Physical therapy Losing weight Steroid injection into the joint Viscosupplementation Ankle Exercises for Arthritis Surgical options for ankle osteoarthritis include: Arthroscopic surgery Ankle arthrodesis (fusion) Ankle replacement If You Have Arthritis In Your Ankle Will You Need a Joint Repalcement? Summary Ankle osteoarthritis can occur in any of the three bones in the ankle joint. As with other types of osteoarthritis, it is a condition that can cause pain that gets worse over time. That said, as long as it is correctly diagnosed, ankle osteoarthritis can be treated. If the arthritis is mild, using over-the-counter pain relievers and making lifestyle changes like getting exercise may be enough to manage it. If the damage to the joint is severe, surgery might be necessary. Frequently Asked Questions What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis in the ankle? Ankle osteoarthritis usually causes pain. You may also feel that the ankle joint is stiff or not as flexible as it used to be. What can be done for osteoarthritis of the ankle? There are surgical and non-surgical treatments for ankle osteoarthritis. You can start with lifestyle changes, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, physical therapy, and steroid injections. If these don't help, you can have surgery on your ankle joint. Can ankle osteoarthritis be cured? There is no cure for osteoarthritis. However, many of the treatments for ankle osteoarthritis can help you stay moving and relieve pain. Is walking good for osteoarthritis of the ankle? Walking can be helpful for some people with arthritis because it doesn't stress your joints too much and helps keep them moving. Walking also helps keep your bones strong and may help you maintain your weight, which will also have a positive effect on your overall well-being if you have arthritis. You can talk to your provider about whether a walking routine is right for you. Should You Get Arthroscopic Ankle Surgery? 15 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. 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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 Arthritis Foundation. Osteoarthritis of the Ankle. Creaky Joints. 7 Daily Stretches and Exercises for Arthritis Foot Pain. By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice is a writer who covers arthritis and chronic illness. 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