Chronic Foot and Ankle Injuries

Chronic foot and ankle injuries are relatively common and are associated with numerous patient and clinical impairments. Proper rehabilitation and treatment techniques are imperative to restore impairments associated with chronic injuries to promote long-term health of the involved tissue(s). However, owing to the complex and multi-faceted mechanism by which chronic injuries develop, implementing effective treatment strategies can be challenging. An impairment-based rehabilitation model has been described and supported within the literature to address factors contributing to injuries. Therefore, the primary purpose of this chapter is to describe common pathways that lead to chronic injury, provide an overview of the most common foot and ankle chronic conditions, and to provide treatment and rehabilitation strategies to restore impairments associated with the injury. First, a theoretical framework is presented to describe pathways that lead to the development of chronic injuries. Next, associated risk factors, pathomechanics, and general characteristics of several chronic injuries are outlined. Finally, strategies to improve patient and clinical impairments of these pathologies are described along with general recommendations for treatment according to an impairment-based rehabilitation model.