The Most Common Knee and Ankle Injuries in Sports

A bad landing, a sharp pivot, a missed step, a hard collision — sports can put enormous stress on the knees and ankles. From ACL tears and meniscus injuries to ankle sprains and tendon irritation, sports injuries to knees and ankles can quickly sideline athletes and, if ignored, lead to longer recovery times or chronic instability.

At Hoag Orthopedic Institute, our board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine specialists treat the full range of knee and ankle injuries, helping athletes recover safely and return to the activities they love.

Key Takeaways

• Knee and ankle sports injuries are among the most common reasons athletes miss training and competition.
• Persistent pain, swelling, instability, or reduced range of motion should never be ignored, even if the injury seems minor at first.
• Early treatment of knee, ankle, and lower leg injuries can help prevent chronic instability, repeat injuries, and longer recovery times.
• Strength training, conditioning, proper mechanics, recovery, and appropriate footwear all play a role in reducing injury risk.

Why Are Knee Injuries So Common in Athletes?

Knee injuries in sports are common because the joint must absorb tremendous force while enabling the body to stop, pivot, change direction, and maintain stability through fast movements. A hard landing, planting a foot with a sudden twist, or taking a direct impact can damage ligaments, cartilage, or tendons. The ankle experiences many of the same stresses as it constantly adjusts to impact, balance changes, and fast directional shifts.

5 Injuries Associated With Knee Sports Injuries

Some knee injuries in sports happen suddenly after a twist, collision, or awkward landing, while others develop over time from repetitive stress. Five knee injuries associated with sports include:

ACL Tears

• The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a major ligament that stabilizes the knee
• Often caused by sudden pivots, awkward landings, or twisting with the foot planted
• Common knee injury in sports like basketball, football, and soccer
• Symptoms: popping sensation, followed by pain, rapid swelling, and joint instability

MCL Injuries

• Injury to the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL), which supports the inner knee
• Often caused by a blow to the outside of the knee or twisting injury
• Common knee injury in football and other contact sports
• Symptoms: inner knee pain, swelling, tenderness

Meniscus Tears

• Tear in the cartilage that cushions the knee joint
• Often caused by twisting the knee while it is bearing weight
• Common in football, soccer, skiing, and volleyball
• Symptoms: pain, swelling, stiffness, catching, or locking

Patellar Tendon Injuries

• Overuse injury affecting the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone
• Caused by repetitive jumping, sprinting, or explosive movement
• Common in basketball, volleyball, and jumping sports
• Symptoms: pain below the kneecap that worsens with activity

Knee Sprains and Strains

• Common athletic knee injuries affect the ligaments, muscles, or tendons
• Caused by overextension, awkward movement, direct impact, or repetitive stress
• Common across many sports
• Symptoms: pain, swelling, stiffness, limited movement

5 Common Sports Ankle Injuries

Ankle injuries in sports can result from sudden trauma or repetitive stress.

Ligament Tears

• Torn or overstretched ankle ligaments, commonly called ankle sprains
• Often caused by rolling, twisting, or landing awkwardly
• Common in basketball, soccer, football, tennis, and trail running
• Symptoms: swelling, bruising, pain, and instability in the joint

Cartilage Damage

• Injury to the cartilage inside the ankle joint
• May result from twisting injuries, impact, or repeated joint stress
• Seen in high-impact sports such as basketball, soccer, football, and gymnastics
• Symptoms: pain, swelling, stiffness, catching, or locking

Achilles Tendonitis / Tendinopathy

• Inflammation, irritation, or overuse injury affecting ankle tendons
• Often caused by repetitive stress, poor mechanics, or overtraining
• Common ankle injury in sports involving running and jumping, like baseball and tennis
• Symptoms: aching, swelling, tenderness, worsening pain with activity

Chronic Ankle Instability

• Chronic instability of the ankle joint, often after repeated sprains
• Often caused by frequent cutting, jumping, or directional changes
• Common in basketball, soccer, football, and volleyball
• Symptoms: repeated rolling, weakness, instability, pain

Bone Bruising or Fractures

• Bone injuries ranging from stress fractures to traumatic breaks
• Can result from impact, falls, repetitive loading, or twisting injuries
• Common in running, basketball, football, soccer, and gymnastics
• Symptoms: pain, swelling, bruising, difficulty bearing weight

Lower Leg Sports Injuries That Affect the Knee and Ankle

Some sports injuries to the lower leg miss the joints but can still affect how an athlete moves, placing extra strain on the knees and ankles.

• Shin Splints: Repetitive stress injury causing pain along the shin, common in runners and high-impact athletes.
• Calf Strains: Muscle tears or overstretching in the calf, often caused by sprinting, jumping, or sudden acceleration.
• Stress Fractures: Small bone cracks caused by repetitive impact or overtraining.
• Muscle Imbalances: Weakness or uneven muscle support that can increase strain on the knee and ankle.

Symptoms Athletes Should Not Ignore

Athletes often try to push through pain, but these symptoms can signal a severe injury that can worsen without proper treatment. Seek prompt medical evaluation if you experience:

• Persistent pain that does not improve with rest
• Rapid swelling after an injury
• Joint instability or the feeling that the knee or ankle may give out
• Difficulty bearing weight
• Reduced range of motion
• Locking, catching, or clicking in the joint
• Bruising, tenderness, or worsening pain with activity

Reducing the Risk of Future Knee and Ankle Injuries

Not every injury can be prevented, but proper training and conditioning can reduce the risk of knee and ankle injuries in sports. Athletes can help protect their joints by:

• Building strength in the muscles that support the knees, ankles, and lower body
• Improving balance, flexibility, and movement mechanics
• Warming up properly before training, practice, or competition
• Using appropriate footwear for the sport and playing surface
• Increasing training intensity gradually to avoid overuse injuries
• Allowing time for rest, recovery, and full rehabilitation after an injury

When Athletes Should See a Specialist

If knee or ankle pain does not improve with rest or if symptoms interfere with walking, training, or competition, it is time to see a specialist. Persistent swelling, joint instability, reduced range of motion, difficulty bearing weight, or repeated injuries may signal a more serious problem that needs expert evaluation and treatment.

The board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine specialists at Hoag Orthopedic Institute diagnose and treat ankle and knee sports injuries at every level. From conservative knee pain treatments to robot-assisted joint replacements, our knee specialists and foot and ankle specialists help athletes recover safely and return to the activities they love.