Ankle pain may be symptomatic of inflammation of, or injury to, any of the tissues present in the region, including the joint space, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles.

[6] Frequent causes of ankle problems include injuries such as sprains and medical conditions such as arthritis (specifically osteoarthritis[7]).

[7] Small blood vessels rupture in the process and cause the ankle to swell[4] and damage may also occur to the ligaments, these constituting a short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissues holding the bones together.

[7] A sprained ankle will usually display signs of swelling and bruising for one to two weeks, although more serious cases may take several months to heal fully.

[7] Athletes run a greater risk of sprained ankles [4] - more especially players of ball games such as football, basketball and volleyball.

The following foot joints are those most commonly affected by osteoarthritis:[5] Rheumatoid arthritis constitutes yet another possible cause of pain in the ankle.