Cankles—Causes And Treatment

The word “cankles” may not be familiar to everyone and may even seem humorous. In fact, the term combines the words “calf” and “ankles” and is used as slang.

“Cankles is not a medical term, nor is it a medical condition,” Rich Weil, an exercise physiologist and director of the New York Obesity Research Center Weight Loss Program, told WebMD.

Cankles occur when the calf seems to merge into the ankle, making it look like one body part. Typically, your legs narrow at the ankles because those areas lack bulky muscles.

With cankles, the ankles and lower legs might be swollen or red. Sometimes the ankles can be sore and difficult to walk on. In some cases, one ankle might appear more swollen than the other, which could suggest a medical problem. When a person’s body type or genetics is involved, cankles appear similar in size on both legs.

Why Do Cankles Happen?

Cankles are most often due to edema, which is swelling caused by fluid accumulating in the feet, ankles, and legs. However, there are other reasons that can cause cankles, including:

1. Genetics and body structure

 
Some people are born with thicker ankles. Their bone structure, muscle shape, and fat distribution naturally create a lower leg that looks less tapered.

2. Injuries

Injuring your leg, ankle, or foot can cause swelling and cankles.

3. Body fat distribution

Obesity is a primary cause of cankles because of excess fat accumulation in the lower legs.

4. Pregnancy

Women can experience ankle swelling during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and increased blood volume, which causes the body to retain more fluid.

5. Medications

Medications that might cause lower leg and ankle swelling include:

• Birth control pills and hormone therapy

• Calcium channel blockers

• Steroids

• Testosterone replacement hormones

6. Health conditions

The ankle, foot, or leg can swell due to several health conditions, including:

• Congestive heart failure, due to the heart’s inability to pump blood properly

• Emphysema, a severe lung disease that can cause fluid retention

• Kidney and liver disease

• Lipedema, or abnormal fat accumulation in the lower body

• Lymphedema, or fluid build-up in the legs or arms

• Venous insufficiency, which occurs when the veins cannot effectively carry blood from the feet back to the heart.

Ways to Treat Cankles

If you have cankles, there are several options available to treat them, but the treatment depends on the underlying cause. What’s more, sometimes the option may or may not work. For instance, while being overweight can lead to developing cankles, losing weight might help, but you cannot target specific areas of your body for weight loss.
“We’ve known for a long time that you can’t spot reduce,” Weil told WebMD. “Body fat is body fat and it doesn’t matter if it’s on your ankles, thighs, hips, or belly.”

What’s more, cosmetic surgeries like ankle liposuction are possible, but it “seems a little drastic,” Jessica LeRoy, clinical director for the Center for the Psychology of Women in Los Angeles, told WebMD. Liposuction can help remove excess fat from the ankle area due to genetics or lipedema. However, you typically do not need to treat cankles if they are genetic.

There are less drastic measures to take for treating cankles, such as:

• Try calf exercises. Building up your calf muscles can increase muscle size and create the appearance of smaller ankles.

• Do not wear tight clothing around your ankles. Wearing tight shoes, socks, or pants may make cankles more noticeable.

• Follow a low-salt diet. Reduce your salt intake to prevent fluid retention.

• Get a massage to drain fluid build-up.

• Elevate your legs on a pillow when you lie down.

• Wear compression socks or stockings.

• Take a diuretic (water pill) with a doctor’s approval.

When Should You See a Doctor Because of Cankles?

In many cases, cankles reflect an individual’s natural body shape. However, sometimes ankle swelling may signal a medical problem that requires attention.

You should consider seeing a doctor if you notice:

• Sudden or severe swelling.

• Swelling in only one leg. One-sided swelling can indicate a blood clot, infection, or injury that requires prompt medical attention.

• Pain, redness, or warmth in the legs or feet. These symptoms may suggest inflammation or circulation problems.

If the swelling lasts for several days or keeps returning, a doctor can determine whether circulation, kidney, liver, or heart issues are involved. Also, shortness of breath or chest discomfort, along with swelling, could indicate heart-related conditions that require immediate medical care.

In addition to raising health concerns, cankles can also make you feel self-conscious about your legs and ankles, especially if the condition is genetic. In this case, you may want to consider talking with a therapist about your appearance. You may also want to consider physical therapy to receive a structured foot and ankle conditioning program.

Understanding the difference between typical body variation and possible health issues will help you better care for your overall health.

Source Links:

https://www.health.com/cankles-8649121
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/quick-facts-about-cankles