Impingement is a soft tissue pain syndrome that is though to be caused by soft tissue being compressed between bones, often when a joint moves to a particular position. In the ankle it may occur:
- anteriorly, in association with ankle dorsiflexion
- posteriorly, in association with ankle plantarflexion
Impingement-type pain may also occur lateral to the ankle in the sinus tarsi region, often in association with hindfoot valgus and injuries or arthritis in the subtalar joint.
Synovitis and a spur - two common causes of anterior ankle impingement