What Are The Steps Of An Ankle Evaluation?

• Observe the patient’s gait.
• Feel the Achilles tendon for any thickening or swelling.
• Perform a general inspection.
• Check the ankle temperature.
• Squeeze the metatarsophalangeal joints.
• Palpate the mid-foot.
• Palpate the ankle.

How do you evaluate an ankle injury?

1. tenderness with palpation along the tip of the posterior edge of the lateral malleolus;
2. tenderness over the medial malleolus;
3. tenderness at the base of the fifth metatarsal;
4. tenderness over the navicular bone; and/or.

How do you perform an ankle exam?

First, have the patient lying down supine with the knee bent on the affected side . Then, observe the lateral aspect of the foot and ankle for hematomas or bruises. Then, locate the three lateral ligaments and palpate along their course for crepitus and tenderness.

What are 3 functional tests of the ankle?

• Dorsiflexion Lunge Test. Dorsiflexion is when your bring your toes closer to your shins, ex. ...
• Star Excursion Balance Test. This test is designed to increase strength, flexibility and proprioception in your ankle. ...
• T-Test. ...
• Standing Vertical Jump.

What is the ankle test?

The ankle-brachial index test is a quick, noninvasive way to check for peripheral artery disease (PAD) . The disease occurs when narrowed arteries reduce the blood flow to your limbs. PAD can cause leg pain when walking and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

What does a torn ligament in ankle feel like?

The first signs of a ligament tear are severe swelling and bruising . In a low ankle sprain, the bruise can track into the foot and the toes. A large swelling can appear on the outer side of your ankle. You will often no longer be able to put your full weight on the foot because of the pain.

How do you know if ankle injury is serious?

People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn’t seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs. SooHoo and Williams say.

How do you describe ankle pain?

Ankle pain can be associated with swelling, stiffness, redness and warmth in the involved area. The pain is often described as an intense dull ache that occurs upon weightbearing and ankle motion.

Where does a high ankle sprain hurt?

If you’ve experienced a high ankle sprain, you might be able to put weight on your foot and ankle, but you’ll probably have pain above your ankle, between your fibula and tibia . You’ll likely experience more pain when climbing up or down stairs, or engaging in any activities that cause your ankle bones to flex upward.

What is ankle eversion?

Eversion of the foot simply means to turn the sole of your foot outwards while the opposite is inversion, which is when you stand on the outside edge of your foot. Eversion and inversion are movements of the ankle in the frontal plane which means the movements that run parallel to the front and back of your body.

What are five functional tests when evaluating an ankle injury?

• Small knee bend.
• Sit to stand.
• Squat.
• Double heel raise.
• Jump.
• Single leg stand.
• Single knee bend.
• Single heel raise.

What does an unstable ankle feel like?

A common symptom of ankle instability is the feeling of the ankle ready to give way . This may be heightened when walking on uneven ground or when wearing high heels. The instability may also be accompanied by pain on the outside of the ankle. Sometimes this pain is intense, and other times it may be a dull ache.

What is the strongest ligament of the ankle?

The deltoid ligament is considered the strongest of the ankle ligaments ^{8 , 9 , 12 – 14} and, especially during plantar flexion, functions to prevent excessive eversion at the subtalar joint.

Why do doctors touch your ankles?

We check your legs and feet to look for swelling . People with heart or liver disease may have fluid back-up in their legs, but it can also be a sign of infection or blood clots. We also check the pulses in your feet and look for any skin problems.

What is normal ankle blood pressure?

Conclusion. A primary reference for normal ankle SBP was suggested as 100-165 mmHg in the young and 110-170 mmHg in the middle-elderly subjects .

How do you check blood circulation in your legs?

Arterial Doppler Ultrasound

A Doppler ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images that highlight blood flow in the leg arteries. This test detects and evaluates any blockages caused by plaque buildup.