What is ankle arthrosis? Causes, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment

By Cristiano Antonino On Sep 13, 2022

Ankle arthrosis is a condition that affects older people in particular: the cartilage degenerates with advancing age

However, ankle arthrosis can also occur as a result of an injury to the ankle, such as a fracture.

What are the causes of ankle arthrosis?

Ankle arthrosis is a degenerative process in the articular cartilage of the ankle.

Ankle arthrosis can occur as a result of natural ageing of the cartilage or as a consequence of trauma (a fracture of the ankle) or other diseases, such as rheumatic diseases.

Risk factors that can facilitate the onset of the condition include:

Being overweight, which forces the ankle joint to take on extra strain.
Poor alignment of the joint, which causes excessive cartilage wear.
The repetition of trauma or micro-trauma due to – for example – sports or work, resulting in wear and tear of the cartilage.

What are the symptoms of ankle arthrosis?

Arthrosis is characterised by pain, stiffness and swelling in the joint.

The pain, which is initially present during movement, can then also affect the ankle at rest.

In some cases, a feeling of joint instability may be experienced, as if the ankle is no longer able to support body weight.

How to prevent ankle arthrosis?

To limit the risk of developing arthrosis, it is advisable to

Avoid traumas, such as fractures, which predispose the ankle to an arthritic process.
Avoid conditions such as being overweight and obesity, so as not to force the ankle joint into additional strain.