What Are Cankles a Sign Of?

It is quite normal to have big ankles by birth and the condition may be hereditary in some people.

Cankles is "slang" (and not a medical term) for the part of the leg where the ankle meets the calf without a defining contour of the ankle. Cankles, meaning "calf plus ankles", is considered a rather rude term for ankles that do not taper from the calves and appear as thick as the calves.

Learn more about what are cankles, what causes them, and how to get rid of them.

Ankles are the joints that connect the lower legs to the feet. Ankles are one of the body's most complex, weight-bearing joints. Ankle joints, and the muscles and other structures around them give you stability when you walk and help your feet adapt to different surfaces. Well-defined ankles have calves gradually tapering down the lower legs with a bone jut of the ankle above the foot on either side.

What do cankles look like?

Cankles have calves merging into the ankles like a column, and the ankle bone, which would usually jut out a bit on both sides, is barely visible or invisible.

There are several reasons for cankles. Cankles may be due to a naturally large ankle that you are born with, or swelling of the ankle. It is quite normal to have big ankles by birth, which may be hereditary in some people. It is not a medical condition or sign of disease. Sometimes you may develop feet and ankle swelling after standing for long hours and that is okay, the swelling will go away after you rest with your feet up. However, if you have developed swelling of your ankles over a few days, it may be a cause of concern and may need diagnosis and treatment.

Cankles or kankles, as they are sometimes called, can be normal, and just the body type one has inherited. On the other hand, several medical conditions can result in it. Cankles can be temporary, as in a pregnant woman, due to inactivity, or due to an injury or infection, or may indicate a more serious underlying disease. Cankles often result from fat deposition in the ankles, but skinny people can have cankles too.

Cankles can be a sign of any of the following conditions:

• Obesity: Weight gain can cause fat to accumulate all over the body, including the feet and the ankle, resulting in fat cankles.
• Injury to the leg, feet, or ankle: Injuries to the leg may cause leakage of blood from the blood vessels and result in local swelling.
• Pregnancy: Foot and ankle swelling is a common symptom during pregnancy. However, if you suffer from high blood pressure or are experiencing lightheadedness, headaches, and shortness of breath, you may have a serious condition known as preeclampsia. Preeclampsia leads to highly elevated blood pressure that can harm your child.
• Lipedema: Lipedema is the enlargement of both the legs of the body due to the deposition of fat under the skin. The skin bruises easily and the swelling is painful.
• Lymphedema: Problems in the lymphatic system result in the improper drainage of lymph from the body. This can manifest in the form of swelling anywhere in the body, including the arms, and legs extending to the feet and ankles.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Deep vein thrombosis is the obstruction of the deep veins of one or both legs with one or more blood clots. It results in swelling and reddening of the legs. If the condition is left untreated, then it can lead to pulmonary embolism due to the lodging of the blood clot in the lungs.
• Varicose veins: You may get cankles due to venous insufficiency or varicose veins, where the valves of the blood vessels become weak causing the pooling of blood in the legs. The pooling of blood may lead to swelling of the lower leg which leads to cankles.
• Congestive heart failure: In congestive heart failure, there is a weakening of the heart that causes it to pump blood less efficiently. This causes fluid buildup in the blood vessels of the leg. The fluids leak from the blood vessels resulting in cankles. This is a serious health condition. If you suffer from shortness of breath as well, call 911 urgently.
• Liver disease: A disease like liver cirrhosis causes a decrease in body protein (albumin) levels. Without enough albumin, the fluid leaks out of the blood vessels and causes swelling in the legs, arms, and face.
• Kidney disease: Your kidneys filter the blood and remove waste materials from your body in the form of urine. When you have a kidney disease that hampers its function, fluid, and waste materials build up in the blood vessels. This results in swelling of the whole body beginning from the ankles, feet, and face.
• Air travel: Sitting on flights for a prolonged time can cause your feet and legs to swell. However, if the swelling does not recede once you resume your activities after getting down from the flight, it may indicate some health conditions, such as DVT or a heart problem.
• Medications: Certain medications can cause swelling of the legs, including the feet and ankles. These include:
  • Medicines for high blood pressure, namely calcium channel blockers, such as Amlodipine
  • Medications for diabetes
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Estrogen-containing oral contraceptives
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Steroids
  • Testosterone
  • Antidepressants

Try losing weight if you think your cankles are due to an increase in weight. You can elevate your legs at a level higher than your heart and wear compression or support stockings and check if it helps. Keep moving your legs and exercise them if you have to stand for a longer time. Despite these measures, if the swelling does not improve and you have additional concerns, schedule an appointment with your doctor to know if there are any other health issues.

What is the difference between normal ankles and cankles?

First, cankles are normal if that is your body type. There is nothing abnormal about them, and they are perfectly fine. They serve you as well as any so-called "normal" ankle. The difference is only in appearance, which should not matter. Cankles are just ankles without a well-defined shape. But if your cankles are from any medical reason, it will require proper diagnosis and treatment. Swollen ankles can cause pain, affect your foot movement and stability when you walk, and further restrict your mobility, spiraling into a vicious cycle.

What is the main cause of cankles?

The three main causes of cankles are natural body type, excess fat around ankles, or swelling of the ankles due to any reason. This may include medical conditions, certain medications, or other reasons such as pregnancy or inactivity for prolonged periods.

What do cankles look like?

The gradual natural curve that delineates the ankle and calf is absent in cankles, and the bone usually seen on either side of the ankles is not visible. There is usually a taper from the knee down, but the lower leg up to the foot appears more like a column, without the curve at the ankle.

How do I know if I have cankles?

You will know if you have cankles by the shape of your ankles. If you have always had them, they cause no problems, and your parents and/or others in your family have them, it is nothing to worry about, they are perfectly normal. But if they are swollen, cause you pain, or you have other symptoms, see a doctor. For instance, if you press a finger on your ankle, and it forms a depression, you likely have fluid retention and edema, which can be caused by many medical conditions, or some medication that you are taking.

Are cankles healthy?

Cankles by themselves are not indicators of good or bad health. Cankles are perfectly normal and healthy if that is the natural shape of your ankles, and you are a healthy person. If you have an underlying condition, you will likely have other symptoms as well, and cankles may be one of the indications.