National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Ankle Injuries and Disorders is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Ankle Injuries and Disorders
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. 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.
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Start Here
- Ankle Problems(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- Ankle Pain(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Latest News
- More Soccer Sprains When One Ankle Is Stronger(06/22/2012, Reuters Health)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Ankle Problems(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Arthrography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- Bone X-Ray (Radiography)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- X-Ray Exam: Ankle(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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Treatment
- Care of Casts and Splints(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
- Foot or Ankle Sprain or Fracture(American Podiatric Medical Association)
- How to Tape an Ankle(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- Joint and Soft Tissue Injections(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- What Is a Foot and Ankle Surgeon?(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
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Rehabilitation/Recovery
- Foot and Ankle Conditioning Program(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - PDF
- 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)
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MedlinePlus: Mobility Aids
- Canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs
- Also available in Spanish
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Specific Conditions
- Ankle Fractures(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Broken Ankle/Broken Foot(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Chronic Ankle Instability(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
- Equinus(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
- Fracture of the Talus(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Os Trigonum Syndrome(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
- Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
- Peroneal Tendon Injuries(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
- Pilon Fractures(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- Sports Injuries to the Foot and Ankle(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Sprained Ankle(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
- Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Talar Dome Lesion(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Also available in Spanish
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Related Issues
- Leg Swelling(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Pictures & Photographs
- Ankle sprain - slideshow
- Also available in Spanish
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Health Check Tools
- Ankle Injury(DSHI Systems)
- Ankle Swelling (Both Ankles)(DSHI Systems)
- Ankle Swelling (One Ankle)(DSHI Systems)
- Search the Foot and Ankle: Interactive Foot Diagram(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
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Videos
- Ankle Sprain(Healthy Roads Media)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Ankle Injuries(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Ankle Injuries
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Research
- Ankle Fractures Often Not Diagnosed(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Ankle Replacement Rapidly on the Rise(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Fixed-Bearing Total Ankle Replacement (TAR) Improves Gait Function(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Comparative assessment of the acute ankle injury by ultrasound and...
- Article: Ankle distortion related lesions. Emphasis on failed radiographic diagnosis.
- Article: Minimally invasive approach for the treatment of non-isolated congenital vertical...
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Glossary of Foot and Ankle Terms(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
- Glossary of Orthopaedic Words(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Directories
- Find an ACFAS Physician(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
- Find an Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle MD(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society)
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Organizations
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Children
- Sprained Ankles(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Vertical Talus(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Patient Handouts
- Ankle fracture - aftercare
- Also available in Spanish
- Ankle pain
- Also available in Spanish
- Ankle replacement
- Also available in Spanish
- Ankle replacement - discharge
- Also available in Spanish
- Foot, leg, and ankle swelling
- Also available in Spanish
- Leg MRI scan
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Languages
Ankle Injuries and Disorders - Multiple Languages