Ankle pain

The ankle is the joint that connects the lower leg to the foot. The ankle joint actually consists of two separate joints that provide different movements in the ankle. Pain in the ankle can arise acutely, as in an ankle sprain, or gradually due to, for example, overuse.

Anatomy of the ankle

In the medical world, when we talk about the ankle joint we normally mean the upper ankle joint. However, in a general sense the ankle consists of two joints, namely the upper ankle joint and the lower ankle joint.

Upper ankle joint
The upper ankle joint provides the up and down movement of the foot; in other words, pulling the toes towards you or pushing them away from you. This is a so-called hinge joint and connects the tibia and fibula with the talus. The bony bumps on the inside and outside of the ankle are the ends of the tibia (on the inside) and the fibula (on the outside).

Lower ankle joint
The lower ankle joint provides the tilting of the foot. In other words, turning the sole of the foot inwards (inversion) or outwards (eversion). The joint consists of three joint surfaces: of the talus, the heel bone and a tarsal bone.

Ankle ligaments
The ankle joint is reinforced by ligaments, also called ligaments. Ligaments consist of strong, stiff connective tissue structures that are much less elastic than muscles. These ligaments provide extra stability to a joint. The ligaments of the ankle provide extra stability to the lower ankle joint and are important to counteract sprains. If we sprain our ankle with too much force, the ligaments can no longer absorb the impact. As a result, the ligaments can tear.

Muscles
The muscles around the ankle ensure that the ankle can move in different directions. The calf muscles, together with the Achilles tendon, mainly provide plantar flexion (standing on the toes). The muscles at the front of the lower leg provide dorsiflexion.

Pain? Check your symptoms!

If you have pain in the ankle, you probably want to know what kind of problem or injury you have. To get a good picture of where the pain in your ankle comes from, we advise you to do the online physiotherapy check. You indicate where you have pain and then answer a number of questions about your symptoms.

Once you have gone through the questions, your symptoms are compared with the most common ankle conditions in physiotherapy. If necessary, you can contact a physiotherapy practice for professional help.

Conditions

Below you can read more about conditions that can cause pain in the ankle. Each condition is discussed in detail. You will find everything about the symptoms, causes and possible treatments. When going through the online physiotherapy check, your ankle symptoms are compared with all these conditions.