The ankles support the entire weight of the body, which makes them very susceptible to sprains, strains, fractures and other injuries.

When a forceful motion overloads the ankle, three types of injuries can occur:

• Strain of the tendons that attach muscles to the bones
• Sprain of the ligaments that attach one bone to another bone
• Fracture of the bones

Common causes of ankle injuries include:

• Falls
• Sports injuries
• Stepping onto an uneven surface
• Automobile accidents
• Occupational injuries

Types of ankle injury include:

• Ankle fracture
• Ankle contusion
• Ankle sprain
• Ankle dislocation