What is an ankle sprain?

An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. This is a common injury which occurs when an excessive stretching force is applied to the ligaments of the ankle. The resulting inflammation causes swelling and pain around the ankle joint, and the ankle becomes warm and red due to increased blood flow to the area. Following an ankle sprain there is a reduced ability to move the ankle joint and it is difficult to weightbear on the affected leg.
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What is ankle arthritis?

Most ankle arthritis is caused by osteoarthritis (OA) however there are also other forms of arthritis that can affect the ankle joint such as rheumatoid arthritis.

In a normal ankle, smooth cartilage lines the ends of the bones which form the ankle joint (the tibia and the talus bones). In OA of the ankle, this cartilage wears away causing friction between the bony surfaces and pain when weight bearing. Pain can also be caused by fragments of cartilage becoming detached in the joint. Continue reading →