The meeting of the bones of the leg and the foot is ankle join and is responsible for movement of the foot.

The ankle join in regular usage is also consider to be the ankle join, surrounding anatomic region, lower end of the leg and the start of the flat part of the foot. Ankle problem can be because of inflammation or injury to any part of it which include ligaments, tendons, muscle, bones, joint spaces and cartilage.

There are three category of it:

• Ankle Sprain
• Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain
• Osteochondritis

Ankle sprain is due to twisting or force on the ankle bone which in turn result in one or more ligaments on the outside of the ankle to be stretch or torn. Ankle sprain can turn into long-term problem if it’s not treated properly.

• Ice (reduce swelling).
• Compressive bandages (immobilize and support the injury).
• Surgery (tighten the ligaments).

Chronic lateral ankle pain is periodical which is on the outside part of the ankle. It’s formed after an injury such as a sprained ankle.

Symptoms :

• Ankle instability.
• Difficulty walking.
• Pain (sometimes intense) on the outer side of the ankle.
• Repeated ankle sprains.
• Tenderness.

Cause :

• Ankle sprain
• Fracture.
• Arthritis.
• Inflammation.
• Injury (to the nerves that pass through the ankle. In such case, the nerves become stretched, torn, injured by a direct blow, or pinched under pressure).
• Scar tissue (The scar tissue takes up space in the joint, putting pressure on the ligaments).
• Torn or inflamed tendon.

Treatment :

• Anti-inflammatory medications (reduce swelling).
• Physical therapy (including tilt-board exercises, directed at strengthening the muscles, restoring range of motion, and increasing your perception of joint position).
• Ankle braces or other supports.
• Steroid medication.
• Immobilization.

Osteochondritis is also known as osteochondral fracture of the talus, chip fractureof the articular surface or achondral fracture of the talus. Osteochondritis is a painful type of osteochondrosis where the cartilage or bone in a joint is inflamed. It’s the result of the isolation of the blood flow to the portion of the talus bone. It usually causes pain and stiffness of the ankle joint. It can also be categorized as twisting type injury to the ankle. Osteochondritis occurs in conjunction with a history of trauma.

Its injury to the talus bone of the ankle joint, it’s so small that the amount of force goes through it is 5-10 times a person body weight. Due to such tremendous force that comes on ankle joint which in turns to chronically painful injury.

Symptoms :

• Swelling
• Ankle pain

Treatment :

• Immobilization
• Surgery (removing the loose fragment of cartilage bone from the ankle joint and placing small drill holes in the defect).