Stiff anklejoint and medical?

[torfinn]

Does anyone have any experience with this? My friend who has this stiff anklejoint is able to move in and out of any cockpit, but he is worried, that he won't get a medical approval due the stiff anklejoint. He operates rudderpedals (we tried that) as good as any pilot (his knee works fine). But I imagin that using the toebrakes in some types of aircrafts could be a bit challenging for him.
I will be thankfull for every experience and/or view on this topic.

[Iain Wilson]

There can be a multiplicity of reasons for stiffness of this joint , from "normal" wear and tear to tightness of opposing muscle groups to abnormal biomechanical actions of the lower limb. Many of these causes are relatively amenable to treatment which may be able to bring about an increase in range of movement of said joint. It may be as simple as a course of excersises or the wearing of an orthosis (Insole ) in the shoe. In any event your acquaintance should consult a Physiotherapist or Podiatrist with a specialist interest in this field. This should at the very least provide a firm diagnosis of the problem and some treatment options. Hope this is of some help
Regs Iain

[torfinn]

Thank you for the answer, I very much apriciate it. I'm afraid the joint is artificial and beyond treatment though. It's stiff for good.
I guess the question really is this: Could it stand totally in the way for his medical approval and prevent him from flying?
Or can he expect an approval limited to certain airplanetypes?

[BelfastChild]

When you say it's "artificial", do you mean he has had a replacement (arthroplasty) or a fusion (arthrodesis)?

[torfinn]

The foot and ankle are a prosthesis.