Sprained ankle
What is it?
An ankle sprain is an injury to a ligament in your ankle. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect one bone to another and help to hold joints together. A minor sprain is when a ligament is stretched or partially torn. In severe sprains the ligament may be completely torn.
Symptoms
A sprain can be very painful, with the pain getting worse when you move your ankle. With a severe sprain, you may not be able to put weight on your leg. You may also have some swelling and bruising. Swelling happens soon after the injury but bruising can take up to 24 hours to develop fully. The swelling around your ankle can make it difficult to move your foot, and your ankle may feel unstable.
Causes
The most common type of ankle sprain is when your foot turns inwards, overstretching the ligaments on the outside of your ankle. These are especially common in sports that involve running and jumping, fast changes in direction or lots of stop-starts, such as football, basketball and volleyball.
Walking or running on an irregular surface, your foot slipping off the edge of a kerb, twisting your ankle while climbing stairs or losing your balance wearing high heels can also result in a sprained ankle. Also, you're more likely to sprain your ankle if it has happened before.
Treatments
For immediate treatment, follow the PRICE procedure.
However, if your symptoms are severe, for example you are in a lot of pain, the injured part of your leg is extremely swollen or misshapen, or you can't bear weight on it, you should see your GP or go to your nearest accident and emergency department.
Over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol can help reduce pain. Some painkillers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), may also help reduce swelling. Ask your pharmacist for advice and always read and follow the instructions that come with the medicine.
For most sprains, the swelling and discomfort will begin to subside after a few days. At this point, you should begin to move your ankle. Compression bandages should normally be taken off after two days because they limit movement. Instead you can use an ankle support that doesn't restrict movement too much.
You may wish to see a physiotherapist. He or she will be able to advise you on exercises to rehabilitate your injury and may use massage, heat, ultrasound, or other treatments.
Do
- Follow the PRICE procedure.
- Warm up and stretch well when you're training to reduce the risk of sprains. Aim for a steady build up to exercise rather than occasional vigorous bouts.
- See your GP if you're pain gets worse or your ankle doesn't improve.
Don't
- Keep your ankle completely immobile. Try taking your ankle through its full range of movement as soon as the pain has stopped.
Peer reviewed by David Toy, MCSP, Bupa Sports Medicine physiotherapist
Publication date: June 2009
