Fifteen years ago, it felt like every club had players sidelined with osteitis pubis, while over the last few seasons the injury we hear about almost weekly is the dreaded “syndesmosis.”
So what exactly is the ankle syndesmosis, and why are these injuries attracting so much attention?
The lower leg is made up of two long bones — the tibia and fibula — which run from the knee down to the ankle.
The “syndesmosis” refers to the joint and strong ligaments that connect these two bones just above the ankle.
These structures help stabilise the ankle and keep the bones working together during running, jumping, and changing direction.
A syndesmosis injury occurs when these ligaments are stretched or torn, usually through a twisting mechanism where the foot is forced outward while the leg is planted.
In football, this commonly happens when a player is tackled or another player falls across the leg while the foot is trapped underneath.
Unlike the more common lateral ankle sprain — where the foot rolls inward and recovery is often relatively quick — syndesmosis injuries tend to be far more troublesome.
Because the injury affects the stability between the tibia and fibula, recovery usually takes longer and requires more careful management.
Depending on the severity, treatment may involve time in a moon boot, a lengthy rehabilitation program, or occasionally surgery to help stabilise the joint while it heals.
So why do we seem to be seeing more of these injuries now than in the past?
In reality, they have probably always been around, but improvements in imaging technology and greater awareness among medical staff mean they are now being diagnosed much more accurately.
Years ago, many of these injuries were likely mistaken for standard ankle sprains, leaving athletes struggling with ongoing pain and poor performance for months afterward.
While syndesmosis injuries can be frustrating and slow to recover from, early diagnosis and proper management are key to getting athletes back to sport safely and performing at their best again.
Pat Arnold is a director and sports physiotherapist at Echuca Moama Physiotherapy. Appointments with Pat and his colleagues can be made by phoning 5480 0860 or book online at echucamoamaphysio.com.au
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