Ankle Injuries and Disorders

Summary

Your ankle bone and the ends of your two lower leg bones make up the ankle joint. Your ligaments, which connect bones to one another, stabilize and support it. Your muscles and tendons move it.

The most common ankle problems are sprains and fractures (broken bones). A sprain is an injury to the ligaments. It may take a few weeks to many months to heal completely. A fracture is a break in a bone. You can also injure other parts of the ankle such as tendons, which join muscles to bone, and cartilage, which cushions your joints. Ankle sprains and fractures are common sports injuries.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Find an Expert

• American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Find a Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeon American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Patient Handouts

• Ankle arthroscopy Medical Encyclopedia
• Ankle fracture – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Ankle pain Medical Encyclopedia
• Ankle replacement Medical Encyclopedia
• Ankle sprain – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Foot, leg, and ankle swelling Medical Encyclopedia

Treatments and Therapies

• Ankle Cheilectomy American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Distraction Arthroplasty American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• How to Tape an Ankle American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Joint and Soft Tissue Injections American Academy of Family Physicians
• Sprains, Strains and Fractures American Podiatric Medical Association
• Subtalar Arthroscopy American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• What Is a Foot and Ankle Surgeon? American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Specifics

• Ankle Fractures American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Chronic Ankle Instability American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Equinus American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Os Trigonum Syndrome American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Peroneal Tendon Injuries American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Talar Dome Lesion American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Statistics and Research

• Ankle Fractures Often Not Diagnosed American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• Smoking and Bone Healing – A Risky Surgical Combination American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Start Here

• Ankle Pain Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Diagnosis and Tests

• Ankle Problems American Academy of Family Physicians
• Bone X-Ray (Radiography) Radiological Society of North America
• Direct Arthrography Radiological Society of North America
• Search the Foot and Ankle: Interactive Foot Diagram American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• X-Ray Exam: Ankle Nemours Foundation

Encyclopedia

• Ankle replacement – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Leg MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia

Images

• Ankle sprain – Series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia

Living With

• Ankle Sprain Treatment American Academy of Pediatrics
• Foot and Ankle Rehabilitation Exercises American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• How to Strengthen Your Ankle After a Sprain American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• How to Stretch Your Ankle after a Sprain American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Ankle Injuries National Institutes of Health

Reference Desk

• Glossary of Foot and Ankle Terms American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society

Related Issues

• Leg Swelling Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Journal Articles

• Ankle Injuries and Disorders

Children

• Sprained Ankles American Academy of Pediatrics