Equinus contracture is when the ankle joint isn’t as flexible as it should be. This means you can’t bend your foot back toward the front of your leg. Your doctor might also call this “ankle equinus.”
When your ankle can’t bend correctly, it can change how you walk. You might flatten your arch or put more weight on your toes or the ball of your foot. These changes can lead to other foot and ankle problems, such as plantar fasciitis or hammer toes.
At Summit Orthopedics, our foot and ankle experts in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area can help you with equinus contracture and related issues. We’ll work with you to create a treatment plan to reduce the tightness in your ankle and improve your walking. With fewer symptoms, you can enjoy walks with friends, playing with your children and other activities you love.
Equinus Contracture Causes
Tightness in the soft tissues around your ankle is a common cause of equinus contracture. These tissues include the Achilles tendon and your two main calf muscles, the soleus and the gastrocnemius. If the gastrocnemius muscle is tight, your doctor may call it a gastrocnemius contracture.
Some people are born with tight muscles that cause equinus contracture. Others develop it later in life for various reasons, such as:
- Having a condition that stiffens muscles, like diabetes
- Getting older
- Having a nerve injury
- Having calf muscle spasms
- Having previously injured your ankle in a way that a bone piece affects joint movement
- Recovering in bed for a long time without moving your ankle
- Wearing a cast or using crutches, which stops your ankle from moving
- Wearing high heels, which keeps your foot pointed down
Diagnosing Equinus Contracture
Many people only find out they have equinus contracture when they seek help for another foot problem. If you have pain or other symptoms, your doctor will ask when they started, where in your foot or ankle they hurt, and what seems to make them worse.
To diagnose equinus contracture, your doctor will check your ankle’s range of motion. This helps them see if tight muscles are the problem or if a bone fragment from an old injury stops your ankle from moving correctly. If they suspect a bone fragment, they might order diagnostic imaging, such as an X-ray, to look at your ankle bones.
Treating Equinus Contracture Without Surgery
Your doctor will likely suggest conservative treatment to help you bend your ankle upward and improve your walking. You might need:
- Heel lifts. These inserts go in your shoes and raise your heel, which can help loosen your Achilles tendon and calf muscles.
- Orthotics. These shoe inserts can reduce muscle tightness by improving how your feet, ankles and legs line up. They also spread pressure evenly across your foot.
- Physical therapy. A physical therapist can teach you standing and sitting calf stretches to loosen tight muscles.
- Splints. Wearing a splint during the day or while you sleep can help stretch tight muscles.
Is Surgery Needed for Equinus Contracture?
For many people, equinus contracture heals without surgery. But some people need surgery if their symptoms don’t get better or their ankle remains stiff. Surgery aims to loosen the tight tissues that cause equinus contracture.
One of the most common surgeries for equinus contracture is gastrocnemius release. During this procedure, the surgeon cuts across the gastrocnemius tendon (the tissue connecting the gastrocnemius muscle to the heel bone) to make it longer. Lengthening the tendon loosens the calf muscle.
Care for Equinus Contracture at Summit Orthopedics
From treating equinus fractures to helping with the problems it causes, Summit Orthopedics experts can help you manage your symptoms. Our foot and ankle specialists and physical therapists will create a personalized plan to help you move better and return to your active lifestyle.
Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care.
Find your Summit Orthopedics foot and ankle expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
