Anterior tibiotalar impingement syndromes in dancers.

Anterior tibiotalar impingement is caused by extension at the ankle. Repeated impingement causes two symptom-producing and potentially disabling syndromes. The most frequent is impingement exostoses which form on strong feet that offer resistance to impingement. This condition may be compatible with dancing for many years, but if symptoms warrant, surgery is a consideration. The other syndrome is found in young dancers with long, slender, flexible feet. These feet are weak and allow midfoot sag and plantar fascial stretch causing chronic foot strain. Such feet do not tolerate dancing without extensive retraining and surgery is of no help.