Ankle-the joint where the foot and leg meet is an intricate network of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles, strong enough to bear the human body weight. Ankle can be prone to injury and pain from inside or outside of the ankle or along the Achilles tendon, which connects the muscles in the lower leg to the heel bone. Because ankle pain can sometimes indicate a serious problem, severe ankle pain should be evaluated by the doctor, especially if it follows an injury.

Injury to any of the bones, ligaments or tendons in the ankle can cause ankle pain. Most ankle pain, however, is the result of a sprain, which occurs when your ankle rolls over the foot. An Ankle sprain is actually an injury to the ligaments of the ankle joint, which are elastic, band-like structures that hold the bones of the ankle joint together and prevent excess turning and twisting of the joint. In normal movement, the ligaments can stretch slightly and then retract back to their normal shape and size. A sprain results when the ligaments of the ankle have been stretched beyond their limits. In severe sprains, the ligaments may be partially or completely torn.

Common causes of ankle injury include:

• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Avulsion fracture
• Broken ankle/broken foot
• Gout
• Osteoarthritis
• Pseudogout
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Septic arthritis
• Sprained ankle
• Sprains and strains
• Stress fractures