Ankle Injuries and Disorders
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
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.
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- Ankle Cheilectomy · American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
- Ankle Problems · American Academy of Family Physicians
- Bone X-Ray · Radiological Society of North America
- Direct Arthrography · Radiological Society of North America
- Distraction Arthroplasty · American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
- How to Tape an Ankle · American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
Questions for your care team
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For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number.
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