ankle joint

I am the joint that is injured most often. In fact, over two million of these injuries occur each year in the USA and make up 20 per cent of all athletic injuries. The most common injury is a lateral ankle inversion sprain.
I am made up of three bones: the lower end of the tibia (shinbone), the fibula (the small bone of the lower leg) and the talus, bone that goes between the socket formed by the tibia and the fibula. My talus sits on top of the calcaneus (the heel bone). Usually the talus rotates in a single direction. It moves like a hinge (imagine a cat door) so it allows you to move up and down. There are many tendons that cross the ankle to move your ankles and toes. There is a ligament on both sides of the ankle joint (so they won’t get lonely). Ligaments connect bones to bones while tendons connect muscles to bones. My largest tendon in the foot is the Achilles tendon (connects the calf muscles to the heel bone it allows you to walk jump and run).

Inside the joint is a rubbery smooth substance called articular cartilage. It gives me the ability to move my bones back and forth so that they don't rub against each other. Nobody wants to rub a joint the wrong way. The cartilage lining is about 1/4 inch thick in places such as the ankle, hip or knees. It absorbs shock and can withstand a lifetime of beating (as long as you don't injure it). I'm sure you already know which joint I am? The ankle joint.