Make an Appointment
Talk to DoctorA sprained ankle happens when you roll or twist it, stretching or tearing the ligaments that stabilize the joint—most often on the outside of the ankle. Severity varies, with mild cases manageable through self-care and pain relievers, but medical evaluation may be needed to determine proper treatment.
What Is a Sprained Ankle?
A sprained ankle is a common injury that happens when the tough, fibrous tissues that connect your ankle bones (ligaments) are stretched or torn. This often occurs after an awkward fall, twist, or roll of the ankle, forcing the ligaments beyond their normal range of motion. While most sprains will heal on their own, proper treatment and rehabilitation are important to strengthen the injured area and prevent future injuries.
Types of Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are categorized into three grades based on the severity of the ligament damage.
Mild
A mild sprain, also known as a Grade 1 sprain, is the least severe type. In this case, the ligaments have been slightly stretched or have a very small tear. The symptoms are typically minimal, including slight swelling and tenderness to the touch. You’ll likely be able to walk, but it may cause some minor discomfort.
Moderate
A moderate sprain (Grade 2) involves a partial tear of the ligament. The symptoms are more pronounced, with noticeable swelling and moderate pain. You may have difficulty moving your ankle and find it painful to walk or put weight on the foot. The ankle may also feel loose or unstable.
Severe
A severe sprain (Grade 3) is the most serious type, characterized by a complete tear of the ligament. This injury causes significant swelling, severe pain, and significant instability. It’s often very difficult or impossible to put any weight on the affected foot, and you may hear a popping sound at the moment of the injury. A severe ankle sprain often requires medical intervention.
Symptoms
Depending on the severity of the injury, there are several signs and symptoms of a sprained ankle. They may consist of:
- Pain, particularly when putting weight on the injured foot
- Popping sounds or sensations during the accident
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Tenderness in the ankle when you touch it
- Movement restriction
- Ankle instability
If your ankle hurts and swells, and you think it might be sprained, consult the doctor for a proper evaluation. Self-care techniques might be sufficient but consult your doctor to see whether you also need to have your ankle checked. You might have serious ligament damage or a broken bone in your ankle or lower leg if your signs and symptoms are severe.
Causes
When your ankle is forced out of its natural position, it can strain, partially tear, or totally tear one or more of the ligaments in your ankle, resulting in a sprain.
A sprained ankle may develop due to:
- A stumble that twists your ankle
- Landing uncomfortably on your foot following a jump or rotation
- Walking or working out on a ground that is uneven
- During a sporting event, another person steps on your foot or lands on it
Risk Factors
You are more likely to sprain your ankle if you have the following factors:
- Rough ground – An ankle sprain may be more likely to occur when jogging or walking on uneven ground or in unfavorable playing conditions.
- Sports Injury – Sports requiring hopping, cutting, rolling, or twisting of the foot, such as basketball, tennis, football, soccer, and trail running are especially prone to ankle sprains.
- Fatigue – Muscles that are fatigued are less likely to offer strong support.
- History of injury to the ankle –You’re more prone to sprain your ankle once you’ve already done so or after suffering another kind of ankle injury.
- Poor physical condition or being overweight – Sports participation may raise the risk of an ankle sprain if there is insufficient ankle strength or flexibility.
- Wearing unsuitable shoes – Ankles are more prone to damage when wearing shoes that don’t fit well, are inappropriate for the activity, or are high heeled in general.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will evaluate your ankle, foot, and lower leg during a physical examination. The doctor will move your foot to assess its range of motion, feel the area around the injury for soreness, and determine which postures are painful or uncomfortable.
If the injury is serious, your doctor might advise one or more of the imaging tests listed below to rule out a broken bone or to more precisely assess the degree of ligament damage:
- X-ray – A little amount of radiation goes into your body during an X-ray to create images of the ankle bones. This examination is useful for excluding bone fractures.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – MRIs create fine cross-sectional or 3-D pictures of the soft internal ankle structures, including ligaments, using radio waves and a strong magnetic field.
- Computed Tomography (CT) scan – CT scans can provide more information about the joint’s skeletal structure. In a CT scan, X-rays are collected from numerous angles and combined to create cross-sectional or 3-D images.
- Ultrasound – An ultrasound creates live images using sound waves. When the foot is in various postures, your doctor may use these images to assess the health of a ligament or tendon.
Treatment
The severity of your injury will determine how you are treated for a sprained ankle. Reduced discomfort and swelling, ligament repair, and ankle function restoration are the main objectives of treatment.
Self-care
For the first two or three days, first aid for sprained ankles should follow the R.I.C.E. protocol:
- Rest – Avoid doing things that hurt, itch, or make you uncomfortable.
- Ice – While you are awake, apply an ice pack or take an ice bath for 15 to 20 minutes right away, then repeat every two to three hours. Before using ice, see your doctor if you have diabetes, vascular disease, or impaired sensation.
- Compression – Compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling subsides to help halt it. Don’t wrap too tightly to restrict blood flow. At the end that is furthest from your heart, start wrapping.
- Elevation – To reduce swelling, elevate your ankle above the level of your heart, especially at night. Gravity lessens swelling by eliminating additional fluid.
Medications
The pain of a sprained ankle can usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers such ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen.
Devices
You might need to use crutches until the pain goes away because walking with a sprained ankle can be painful. Your doctor might advise using an elastic bandage, sports tape, or ankle support brace to stabilize the ankle, depending on the degree of the sprain. A cast or walking boot may be required in the event of a serious sprain to keep the ankle immobile while it heals.
Therapy
Your doctor will instruct you to start a series of exercises to regain your ankle’s range of motion, strength, flexibility, and stability once the swelling and pain have subsided enough for you to resume mobility. The proper technique and progression of exercises will be described by your doctor or a physical therapist.
In order to retrain the ankle muscles to cooperate and support the joint and to aid in the prevention of recurring sprains, balance and stability training is particularly crucial. Different levels of balancing challenges, such as standing on one leg, may be a part of these workouts.
Ask your doctor when you could resume your activity if you injured your ankle while exercising or playing a sport. To find out how well your ankle works for the sports you play, your doctor or physical therapist may ask you to participate in specific activity and movement tests.
Surgery
Surgery is occasionally necessary when an injury doesn’t heal or the ankle is still unstable despite extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises. Surgery could be done to fix a ligament that isn’t healing or rebuild a ligament using tissue from an adjacent ligament or tendon.
Prevention
- Regularly exercising to strengthen the muscles in your legs and ankles helps support the joints and prevent injury.
- Always stretch and warm up before any physical activity or sports to prepare your muscles and ligaments for exercise.
- Pay attention to uneven surfaces while walking or running to avoid tripping or stumbling.
- Use shoes that fit well and are suitable for your activity, avoiding high heels or worn-out shoes that offer little support.
- If you feel tired or in pain, slow down or stop exercising to avoid accidental injury.
When to See a Doctor
While many sprains can be managed at home, you should see a doctor if you can’t put any weight on your foot, if the pain and swelling are severe, or if your symptoms don’t improve after a few days. A healthcare provider will evaluate the injury to determine its severity, possibly using an X-ray to rule out a fracture. For severe cases, especially for athletes, it may be beneficial to consult with a specialist at an orthopedic center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most common inquiries to help you understand your injury and what to expect.
1 Sprained ankle vs. broken ankle
An ankle sprain involves damage to the ligaments, while a broken ankle is a fracture of one or more bones. A broken ankle typically takes longer to heal.
2. Can I walk with a sprained ankle?
Whether you can walk on a sprained ankle depends on the severity of the sprain. With a mild sprain, you may be able to walk with some discomfort. However, with a moderate or severe sprain, a doctor may recommend using crutches, a brace, or a boot to limit movement and weight on the injured ankle. Putting too much pressure on a sprained ankle can worsen the injury, cause more pain, and delay the healing process.
3. Can a sprained ankle heal on its own?
Most ankle sprains can heal on their own, especially if you follow the R.I.C.E method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) in the first 48 hours. However, it’s crucial to allow the ligaments enough time to heal properly. Physical therapy is often recommended to help rebuild strength and flexibility in the ankle.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will evaluate your ankle, foot, and lower leg during a physical examination. The doctor will move your foot to assess its range of motion, feel the area around the injury for soreness, and determine which postures are painful or uncomfortable.
If the injury is serious, your doctor might advise one or more of the imaging tests listed below to rule out a broken bone or to more precisely assess the degree of ligament damage:
- X-ray – A little amount of radiation goes into your body during an X-ray to create images of the ankle bones. This examination is useful for excluding bone fractures.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – MRIs create fine cross-sectional or 3-D pictures of the soft internal ankle structures, including ligaments, using radio waves and a strong magnetic field.
- Computed Tomography (CT) scan – CT scans can provide more information about the joint’s skeletal structure. In a CT scan, X-rays are collected from numerous angles and combined to create cross-sectional or 3-D images.
- Ultrasound – An ultrasound creates live images using sound waves. When the foot is in various postures, your doctor may use these images to assess the health of a ligament or tendon.
Treatment
The severity of your injury will determine how you are treated for a sprained ankle. Reduced discomfort and swelling, ligament repair, and ankle function restoration are the main objectives of treatment.
Self-care
For the first two or three days, first aid for sprained ankles should follow the R.I.C.E. protocol:
- Rest – Avoid doing things that hurt, itch, or make you uncomfortable.
- Ice – While you are awake, apply an ice pack or take an ice bath for 15 to 20 minutes right away, then repeat every two to three hours. Before using ice, see your doctor if you have diabetes, vascular disease, or impaired sensation.
- Compression – Compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling subsides to help halt it. Don’t wrap too tightly to restrict blood flow. At the end that is furthest from your heart, start wrapping.
- Elevation – To reduce swelling, elevate your ankle above the level of your heart, especially at night. Gravity lessens swelling by eliminating additional fluid.
Medications
The pain of a sprained ankle can usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers such ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen.
Devices
You might need to use crutches until the pain goes away because walking with a sprained ankle can be painful. Your doctor might advise using an elastic bandage, sports tape, or ankle support brace to stabilize the ankle, depending on the degree of the sprain. A cast or walking boot may be required in the event of a serious sprain to keep the ankle immobile while it heals.
Therapy
Your doctor will instruct you to start a series of exercises to regain your ankle’s range of motion, strength, flexibility, and stability once the swelling and pain have subsided enough for you to resume mobility. The proper technique and progression of exercises will be described by your doctor or a physical therapist.
In order to retrain the ankle muscles to cooperate and support the joint and to aid in the prevention of recurring sprains, balance and stability training is particularly crucial. Different levels of balancing challenges, such as standing on one leg, may be a part of these workouts.
Ask your doctor when you could resume your activity if you injured your ankle while exercising or playing a sport. To find out how well your ankle works for the sports you play, your doctor or physical therapist may ask you to participate in specific activity and movement tests.
Surgery
Surgery is occasionally necessary when an injury doesn’t heal or the ankle is still unstable despite extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises. Surgery could be done to fix a ligament that isn’t healing or rebuild a ligament using tissue from an adjacent ligament or tendon.
Prevention
- Regularly exercising to strengthen the muscles in your legs and ankles helps support the joints and prevent injury.
- Always stretch and warm up before any physical activity or sports to prepare your muscles and ligaments for exercise.
- Pay attention to uneven surfaces while walking or running to avoid tripping or stumbling.
- Use shoes that fit well and are suitable for your activity, avoiding high heels or worn-out shoes that offer little support.
- If you feel tired or in pain, slow down or stop exercising to avoid accidental injury.
When to See a Doctor
While many sprains can be managed at home, you should see a doctor if you can’t put any weight on your foot, if the pain and swelling are severe, or if your symptoms don’t improve after a few days. A healthcare provider will evaluate the injury to determine its severity, possibly using an X-ray to rule out a fracture. For severe cases, especially for athletes, it may be beneficial to consult with a specialist at an orthopedic center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most common inquiries to help you understand your injury and what to expect.
1 Sprained ankle vs. broken ankle
An ankle sprain involves damage to the ligaments, while a broken ankle is a fracture of one or more bones. A broken ankle typically takes longer to heal.
2. Can I walk with a sprained ankle?
Whether you can walk on a sprained ankle depends on the severity of the sprain. With a mild sprain, you may be able to walk with some discomfort. However, with a moderate or severe sprain, a doctor may recommend using crutches, a brace, or a boot to limit movement and weight on the injured ankle. Putting too much pressure on a sprained ankle can worsen the injury, cause more pain, and delay the healing process.
3. Can a sprained ankle heal on its own?
Most ankle sprains can heal on their own, especially if you follow the R.I.C.E method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) in the first 48 hours. However, it’s crucial to allow the ligaments enough time to heal properly. Physical therapy is often recommended to help rebuild strength and flexibility in the ankle.
