A sprained ankle is a common injury that occurs when the ligaments that support the ankle joint are stretched or torn, usually due to an injury or trauma. This can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the ankle.

Symptoms of a sprained ankle can vary in severity depending on the extent of the injury but may include pain, swelling, bruising, stiffness, and difficulty walking or putting weight on the affected ankle. In more severe cases, there may be a popping sound at the time of injury, and the ankle may be visibly deformed.

The treatment of a sprained ankle typically involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE therapy) to reduce pain and swelling. Over-the-counter pain medication can also be used to manage pain. In more severe cases, a healthcare provider may recommend physical therapy or a brace to help stabilize the ankle during healing.

Prevention of ankle sprains can be done by wearing appropriate footwear, warming up before exercise, and practicing good technique during physical activity.

It is important for individuals with a suspected sprained ankle to seek medical attention to receive an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan. A healthcare provider can help determine the severity of the injury and recommend appropriate treatment options to promote healing and prevent further damage to the ankle.

A sprain occurs when your ankle is forced to move out of its normal position, which can cause one or more of the ankle's ligaments to stretch, partially tear or tear completely.

Causes of a sprained ankle might include:

• A fall that causes your ankle to twist
• Landing awkwardly on your foot after jumping or pivoting
• Walking or exercising on an uneven surface
• Another person stepping or landing on your foot during a sports activity

The following tips can help you prevent a sprained ankle or a recurring sprain:

• Warm up before you exercise or play sports.
• Be careful when walking, running or working on an uneven surface.
• Use an ankle support brace or tape on a weak or previously injured ankle.
• Wear shoes that fit well and are made for your activity.
• Minimize wearing high-heeled shoes.
• Don't play sports or participate in activities for which you are not conditioned.
• Maintain good muscle strength and flexibility.
• Practice stability training, including balance exercises.

Treatment for a sprained ankle depends on the severity of your injury. The treatment goals are to reduce pain and swelling, promote healing of the ligament, and restore function of the ankle. For severe injuries, you may be referred to a specialist in musculoskeletal injuries, such as an orthopedic surgeon or a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Self-care

For self-care of an ankle sprain, use the R.I.C.E. approach for the first two or three days:

• Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.
• Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake. If you have vascular disease, diabetes or decreased sensation, talk with your doctor before applying ice.
• Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. Don't hinder circulation by wrapping too tightly. Begin wrapping at the end farthest from your heart.
• Elevation. To reduce swelling, elevate your ankle above the level of your heart, especially at night. Gravity helps reduce swelling by draining excess fluid.

Medications

In most cases, over-the-counter pain relievers — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) — are enough to manage the pain of a sprained ankle.

Devices

Because walking with a sprained ankle might be painful, you may need to use crutches until the pain subsides. Depending on the severity of the sprain, your doctor may recommend an elastic bandage, sports tape or an ankle support brace to stabilize the ankle. In the case of a severe sprain, a cast or walking boot may be necessary to immobilize the ankle while it heals.

Therapy

Once the swelling and pain is lessened enough to resume movement, your doctor will ask you to begin a series of exercises to restore your ankle's range of motion, strength, flexibility and stability. Your doctor or a physical therapist will explain the appropriate method and progression of exercises.

Balance and stability training is especially important to retrain the ankle muscles to work together to support the joint and to help prevent recurrent sprains. These exercises may involve various degrees of balance challenge, such as standing on one leg.

If you sprained your ankle while exercising or participating in a sport, talk to your doctor about when you can resume your activity. Your doctor or physical therapist may want you to perform particular activity and movement tests to determine how well your ankle functions for the sports you play.

Surgery

In rare cases, surgery is performed when the injury doesn't heal or the ankle remains unstable after a long period of physical therapy and rehabilitative exercise. Surgery may be performed to:

• Repair a ligament that won't heal
• Reconstruct a ligament with tissue from a nearby ligament or tendon