Here at Lexington Family Chiropractic, we want to share our knowledge with you - our knowledge about how the body is put together and how it works. We believe that with that knowledge, you, our friends, neighbors and families, will be able to make well-informed healthcare and lifestyle decision.

Like all the joints of the body, the ankle is truly an amazing machine. Think about all of the things you can do with your ankle! You can point your toes or pull them up toward your head. You can twist it and bend it and flex it in all directions. You can run across the yard to scoop up a laughing grandchild or dance at your senior prom.

However, when all the parts of this complex structure don't line up with the precision they require, your ankle can hobble you and make every step a painful experience. Let's spend a couple of minutes looking at the parts of the ankle and how gentle chiropractic treatment can get you back on your feet again.

There is no bone called the ankle. What many people think of as the ankle bone, the projections on each side of your ankle, are actually the distal (far) ends of the bones of your lower leg, the tibia, or shin bone, and the fibula. So, the ankle consists of the distal ends of the tibia and fibula, as well as the seven tarsal bones, which are the irregular bones that make up the bulk of the ankle. The two tarsals you might want to remember are the calcaneus and the talus. You know your calcaneus as your heel bone. The talus is the bone at the top of the ankle that articulates, or joins, with the distal ends of the tibia and fibula.

Just as there is a narrow passage through the carpal bones of your wrist, for the passage of blood, nerve and tendon, there is a passage in the ankle referred to as the tarsal tunnel. When nerves passing through the tarsal tunnel become compressed, due to swelling or misalignment of the tarsals, the resulting pain can be debilitating.

Gentle manipulation of the ankle, combined with other conservative treatment modalities, can bring everything back to its original position and get you back on the dance floor!

To find out more about your amazing body and how Dr. Gallantine can help it run at its peak, please contact us or give us a call at 859-264-1140.

Remember - You don't have to live with the pain!