What is ankle?

An ankle is like the hinge on your shoe that lets you twist and turn when you walk or run.

Imagine your leg is a big robot arm, and your foot is the hand at the end of it. The ankle is the special part between your leg and your foot, it’s like a swivel door that lets you move up and down, side to side, and even twist your foot when you're walking on the sidewalk or dancing in the living room.

Think of your ankle as a stretchy band around your leg. When you stand up, sit down, or walk, this band helps you bend and straighten your foot. Sometimes it feels like your ankle is wiggling when you're playing with your toys, that’s because your ankle is moving to help you balance and move more easily.

Your ankle lets you jump on the trampoline, run after your brother, or even stand on one foot while trying to catch a ball. Without it, walking would be like trying to walk in socks that are too tight, not very fun!