Sometimes, in reaction to this pressure, the bones grow ridges that lock against themselves, and the tissue swells, further reducing flexibility. When gymnasts miss a dismount and land short, the problem is intensified. There is no cure for the problem, short of surgery. The operation involves removing the excess tissue and chipping away at the bone until it regains normal clearance and thickness. It can solve the problem for a time, but there is no assurance that the joint will not thicken all over again.
Some people simply seem disposed that way.
Before the extreme of surgery, though, there are some things you can do to mitigate the problem. Gymnasts can strengthen their calf muscles, so as to be able to use them as shock absorbers when they land from their dismounts. Dancers and football players can similarly strengthen their calf muscles. Ballet dancers also suffer impingement in the back of the ankle, making it hard for them to go up on their toes, much less on point. Again, surgery is the only real solution, but dancers can cheat to reduce the discomfort.