Posterior Ankle Impingement Syndrome in Dancers
Mai Katakura, John G. Kennedy, James D.F. Calder · Journal of Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Science · 2026
This narrative review covers posterior ankle impingement syndrome (PAIS), a common cause of pain at the back of the ankle in ballet dancers that comes from forced or repeated pointing of the foot (plantar flexion). The authors summarize the relevant anatomy, how the injury develops, how it's diagnosed and treated, and dance-specific factors for returning to dance; no new experimental results are reported.
Takeaway: Get persistent pain at the back of the ankle assessed if your training involves heavy or repeated pointed-foot positions, such as ballet.
Abstract (source)
Read the original →Posterior ankle impingement syndrome (PAIS) is a condition characterized by posterior ankle pain, typically resulting from forced or repetitive plantar flexion. It is one of the most common injuries in ballet dancers, making appropriate diagnosis and treatment essential. The
Purpose: of this narrative review is to summarize the anatomy, pathology, diagnostic assessment, and treatment strategies of PAIS, with special emphasis on dance-specific biomechanics and return-to-dance considerations following treatment.
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