32 malerats, aged 10 ± 1 week, weighing 376±22 grams were divided into the following four groups (n=8/group) CG (control), LG (lesion), EG (exercise) and LEG (lesion and exercise). Three days after sciatic compression, the animals in the EG and LEG were submitted to resistance exercise by climbing stairs (five days/week) for three weeks and a load of 100 grams was added. The exercise was carried out in two sets of ten consecutive ascents of the steps. The ankle jointtissues were analyzed for their morphometry and morphology using light microscopy.