In the case of poorly treated ligament strains, sequelae can occur, the most significant of which is joint instability and even severe osteoarthritis. Ligaments are connected between muscles and bones, and they are driven by the contraction of the muscles to the bones. In some special areas, such as the ankle, the ligaments are connected between the bones to stabilize the bones and joints. If a sprain or other trauma causes a ligament strain, it needs to be treated formally, whether conservatively or surgically, to restore the function of the ligament. If the ligament continues to lax or the attachment point is torn for a long time in poorly treated cases, the result is often joint laxity and instability, which in the long run causes young athletes to lose their athletic function and normal adults to develop secondary traumatic osteoarthritis.