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What is the ball on your ankle called?

Author

William Jenkins

Published Feb 15, 2026

What is the ball on your ankle called?

The most common fracture is to the bony bump on the outside of the ankle, the lateral malleolus. The lateral malleolus is the bottom of the fibula, the smaller lower leg bone. The bump on the inside of your ankle, the medial malleolus, is less commonly fractured.

Correspondingly, what is the knob on your ankle called?

The hard bony knobs on each side of the ankle are called the malleoli. These provide stability to the ankle and function as the weight-bearing joints of the foot.

One may also ask, why does my talus hurt? Because the talus is important for ankle movement, a fracture often results in substantial loss of motion and function. A talus fracture that does not heal properly can lead to complications, including a limp, arthritis, and chronic pain. For this reason, most talus fractures require surgery.

Similarly, it is asked, what does a lump on your ankle mean?

Lumps in the ankle can be caused by any number of conditions, including infections, inflammation, tumors and trauma. Many ankle lumps are the result of traumatic causes. The ankles are vulnerable to trauma because of their proximity to the ground and their role in walking, running and jumping.

Can you break the ball of your ankle?

A fall or blow to your ankle can break one or more of the three bones in your ankle joint — the fibula, the tibia and the talus. Rolling your ankle can cause a break in the knobby bumps at the end of the tibia and fibula. A broken foot is an injury to the bone.

Why do I have two ankle bones?

However, some people with this extra bone develop a painful condition known as accessory navicular syndrome when the bone and/or posterior tibial tendon are aggravated. This can result from any of the following: Trauma, as in a foot or ankle sprain.

Can you break a bone in your ankle and still walk?

This happens when at least one of three bones in your ankle breaks. If just one bone is broken, you may not realize how bad the injury is. But if multiple bones break at once, you will lose stability in your ankle and may not be able to walk. An ankle fracture can also lead to ligament damage.

Why does my ankle crack when I rotate it?

When you move your ankle, you stretch the joint capsule that's filled with fluid to keep it lubricated. When bubbles of nitrogen or other gases in this fluid are released, it may cause a loud popping sound.

How many ankles do humans have?

The ankle includes three joints: the ankle joint proper or talocrural joint, the subtalar joint, and the inferior tibiofibular joint. The movements produced at this joint are dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the foot.
Ankle
Lateral view of the human ankle
Details
Identifiers
Latintarsus

What is bone on outside of ankle?

The portion that we usually mean when we refer to the ankle is called the true ankle joint. It is the coming together of three bones: the fibula of the shin on the outside of the ankle; the tibia, also of the shin, on the inside of the ankle and that talus bone underneath them.

Will my ankle ever be the same after a break?

Can you fully recover from a broken ankle? You should be able to resume your normal daily routine around three months after breaking your ankle. It can take several months to regain strength and range of motion in your ankle.

What happens if you put weight on a broken ankle?

It is very important to not put weight on your ankle until your physician says you can. If you put weight on the injured ankle too early, the fracture fragments may move or your surgery may fail and you may have to start over.

What happens if you bear weight on a broken ankle?

Pain, swelling, tenderness and bruising at your ankle joint. Inability to move your ankle through its normal range of motion. Inability to bear weight on your injured ankle — However, if you can bear weight on the ankle, don't assume there is no fracture.

What does ganglion cyst look like?

They're typically round or oval and are filled with a jelly-like fluid. Ganglion cysts are noncancerous lumps that most commonly develop along the tendons or joints of your wrists or hands. They also may occur in the ankles and feet. Ganglion cysts are typically round or oval and are filled with a jellylike fluid.

What happens if you pop a ganglion cyst?

A ganglion cyst rupture isn't usually hazardous to your health, but it can be painful for several days as the fluid from the cyst leaks into the surrounding muscle tissue. Treating a ganglion cyst generally involves managing your pain until the area of the rupture feels better.

What does plantar fibroma look like?

If a plantar fibroma exists, they will find a mass in the plantar fascia in the arch. The mass has no swelling, increased warmth, or redness. It is firm and does not move. There are no skin changes.

What is the bump on the side of my foot called?

A bunion is a bony bump that forms along the side of the foot. A tailor's bunion occurs when this bump is on the outside of the foot, at the base of the little toe. Tailor's bunions are also called bunionettes and are less common than regular bunions.

Can I pop a ganglion cyst myself?

One option: Do nothing. Unless your cyst is pressing on a nerve and causing pain or interfering with muscle function, there is no medical reason to treat it, says Dr. Cardone. But if it hurts or you don't love the lumpy look, you can have it aspirated, as I did.

Can a ganglion cyst pop up overnight?

The cause of ganglion cysts is unknown. They can appear suddenly or slowly, and can disappear on their own. They can also reappear for no reason. Exercise or increased use of the joint where the ganglion cyst has formed may cause it to grow larger over time.

Why do I have fat deposits on my ankles?

Cankles can form due to a variety of reasons: Genetics can influence the distribution of fat within the body, predetermining the likelihood of developing cankles. Weight gain as a result of diet or pregnancy could lead to cankles developing due to the increased size of fat cells at the ankles.

Is a ganglion cyst hard or soft?

A ganglion cyst always forms near a joint, and a doctor can usually recognize one by examining it visually. They may be soft or hard, and they should be able to move freely under the skin. Location: These cysts usually occur on the top or back of the wrist.

What does a ganglion cyst look like on the foot?

Although they can form anywhere on the foot, they commonly occur on the top. The size may range from that of a pea to a golf ball. The cyst may appear round and be soft or very hard. Beneath the skin, a ganglion cyst looks like a balloon on a stalk, and it may move freely beneath the skin if a person pushes it.

What does a broken talus feel like?

Symptoms: Symptoms of a talar fracture include acute pain, and the inability to walk or weight bear on the foot, and severe swelling, bruising and tenderness. Location of pain and type of pain or discomfort can vary depending on the type of injury to the talus listed below.

How do you relieve talus pain?

Nonsurgical Treatment Approaches
  1. Immobilization. Depending on the type of injury, the leg may be placed in a cast or cast boot to protect the talus.
  2. Oral medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may be helpful in reducing the pain and inflammation.
  3. Physical therapy.
  4. Ankle brace.

What does a talus stress fracture feel like?

A stress fracture or chip may feel more like a sprained ankle. You'll feel pain and tenderness, especially when walking on it. But the pain may not be bad enough to make you think there's a fracture.

How long does the talus bone take to heal?

The recovery from a talus fracture can be lengthy because until the bone is healed, you cannot place weight on your foot. Therefore, most talus fractures require a minimum of six to 12 weeks of protection from weight-bearing. 8??? In more significant injuries, the time may be longer.

What does the talus bone look like?

The talus is a small bone that sits between the heel bone (calcaneus) and the two bones of the lower leg (the tibia and fibula). It has an irregular, humped shape like a turtle's shell. The bones of the lower leg ride on top and around the sides to form the ankle joint.

Why does the bone under my ankle hurt?

Ankle pain can happen due to an injury to any of the ankle bones, tendons or ligaments. Although, an ankle sprain is the most common cause of ankle pain, other conditions like arthritis, fracture and inflammation of tendons or ligaments can also cause pain.

Is the talus a weight bearing bone?

The talus (astragalus) articulates above with the bones of the lower leg to form the ankle joint. The other six tarsals, tightly bound together by ligaments below the talus, function as a strong weight-bearing platform. The calcaneus, or heel bone, is the largest tarsal and forms… intermedium fuse to form the talus.

How long does it take for a talus stress fracture to heal?

It typically takes from 6 to 8 weeks for a stress fracture to heal. During that time, switch to activities that place less stress on your foot and leg.

What is the fastest way to relieve ankle pain?

Treatment
  1. Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.
  2. Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake.
  3. Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops.
  4. Elevation.

What is the easiest bone to break in your foot?

The metatarsal bones are some of the most commonly broken (fractured) bones in the foot.

What happens if a fracture is left untreated?

If untreated, the pain experienced from a fracture will likely worsen as time goes on. The main risk of an untreated fracture, however, is improper healing. This can result in visible deformities, misalignment, limited movement, and infection.

Can you wiggle your toes with a broken ankle?

Most believe that if they can wiggle their toes or move the ankle around that an ankle fracture has not occurred. The reason this is not true is because the nerves and muscles that allow the movement of the ankle have not been affected by the fracture.

How can you tell if an ankle is fractured?

Symptoms of ankle sprains and ankle fractures are similar and can include:
  1. Bruising.
  2. Inability to put weight on the injured foot.
  3. Instability.
  4. Pain.
  5. Swelling.
  6. Tenderness.

What is the fastest way to heal a broken ankle?

Ankle Fracture Treatment Self-Care at Home
  1. Stay off the injured ankle so you do not injure it further.
  2. Keep the ankle elevated to help decrease swelling and pain.
  3. Apply cold packs to the injured area to decrease swelling and pain. Do not apply ice directly. Cold packs are effective for up to 48 hours.

How do you treat a broken ankle at home?

Foot and Ankle Fracture Treatment Options
  1. Rest: Rest is key.
  2. Ice: Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling and inflammation.
  3. Compression: Wrapping the injury helps control swelling.
  4. Elevation: Keep your foot and ankle raised slightly above the level of your heart to help reduce inflammation.

How do I know if my foot is sprained or fractured?

In general, a broken foot tends to be more painful than a sprained foot, and the pain lasts longer. Bruising, swelling, and tenderness are also more severe if your foot is broken. Another way to tell the difference between a broken foot and sprained foot is the sound the body makes when the injury occurs.

How do I know if my foot injury is serious?

When to see a doctor if you think your foot is broken

See a doctor if there is obvious deformity, if the pain and swelling don't get better with self-care, or if the pain and swelling gets worse over time. Also, see a doctor if the injury interferes with walking.