Overview
An ankle sprain is a stretch or tear of the ligaments that support the ankle, most often on the outer side when the foot rolls inward. Sprains range from mild stretching to complete ligament tears.
Symptoms
- Pain, usually on the outer side of the ankle
- Swelling and bruising
- Pain when putting weight on the foot
- Stiffness and reduced motion
- A feeling that the ankle is unstable or gives way
Treatment
Treatment depends on your symptoms, examination and goals. Your clinician will talk through which options fit you.
An examination determines how severe the sprain is. X-rays are used when a fracture is possible — for example, with tenderness over the bones or difficulty bearing weight.
Most ankle sprains are treated without surgery: a short period of rest, ice, compression, and elevation; a brace, wrap, or walking boot for support; and a gradual return to walking. Physical therapy focused on motion, strength, and balance helps the ankle recover and can lower the chance of spraining it again.
Surgery is uncommon. It may be considered for chronic ankle instability — an ankle that keeps giving way despite rehabilitation — or for related injuries such as certain fractures or tendon or cartilage damage.
When to seek care
See a clinician if you cannot bear weight, have tenderness over the ankle or foot bones, or if pain and swelling are not improving after several days.
Go to an emergency room for an ankle that looks deformed, a foot that is cold, pale, or numb, or a wound over the injury.
For a medical emergency, call 911.
This information is general patient education. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace advice from a clinician who has examined you. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Schedule an appointment
Book a visit with Foot & Ankle online through MyChart, or call us.
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For a medical emergency, call 911.