Information for Patients
From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Common Injuries of the Foot and Ankle
Common Dance and Ballet Injuries of the Foot and Ankle
Injuries of the foot and ankle are common in individuals participating in dance and classical ballet. These injuries are typically the result of stress and overuse, although some are likely related to developmental abnormalities that are influenced by pushing the ankle joint beyond its normal physiological limits. Although many foot and ankle conditions are common in dancers, this article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that are specific and common in ballet: symptomatic os trigonum, triggering of the flexor hallucis longus tendon, and certain types of stress fractures.
Keywords: symptomatic os trigonum, stress fracture, fibular stress fracture, navicular stress fracture, sesamoiditis, sesamoid stress fracture, metatarsal stress fracture, stenosing tenosynovitis, flexor hallucis longus triggering, peroneal tendinitis, peroneal subluxation, peroneal entrapment, peroneal attritional tears, peroneal tendon dislocation, peroneal tendon subluxation