An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligament of the ankle joint. Sprained ankles are one of the most common orthopaedic injuries.

What causes a sprained ankle?

An ankle sprain is a common sports injury, but can also happen during everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs.

Ankle ligaments are injured when an excessive stretching force is applied to them. This commonly happens when the foot is turned inward or inverted.

This can happen by awkwardly planting your foot while walking, stepping down, or running. This can also occur by stepping on an uneven surface or stepping in a hole.

What does an ankle sprain feel like?

A sprained ankle is characterized by several symptoms including:

• Ankle pain, aggravated by touch or by certain movement
• Swelling, often severe
• Throbbing sensation around ankle joint
• Redness and warmth in the injured area, caused by increased blood flow to the injury

How do I know if I have a sprained ankle?

A physical examination by your doctor will properly diagnose the injury and the severity of the ankle sprain. The exam will focus on pain and range of motion, ensuring that there is no serious injury to the ankle, including fracture.

Nerves and arteries to the foot should be checked for injury, and the Achilles tendon should be checked for possible rupture. X-ray imaging will confirm if there is fracture.

How is a sprained ankle treated?

Ankle sprains typically heal on their own without complications and most people are able to make a complete recovery. Caring for your injury should focus on reducing pain and aiding healing.

Common ankle sprain treatments include:

• Rest: Keeping off of your injured ankle will prevent further injury and promote proper healing.
• Brace or splint: Wearing a brace or splint will keep pressure off of the ankle joint.
• Crutches: Using crutches will help you with mobility, while also keeping weight and pressure off of the injury.
• Ice: Applying ice to the injury will counteract the increased blood flow to the injury, reducing the swelling and inflammation.
  
  Do not apply the ice directly to the skin. Use a towel or bag to wrap the ice, as direct exposure to the skin may cause frostbite.
• Compression: Immobilize the ankle with elastic wraps. This helps prevent inflammation and provides extra ankle support.
• Elevation: Prop the injured ankle up so that it is elevated above the level of your heart. This helps promote healing by allowing your body to absorb fluid that has leaked into the tissue following the injury.
• Anti-inflammatory medicine: Medicine such as ibuprofen will help reduce pain and swelling.
• Physical therapy: For repeat or severe ankle sprains, physical therapy can help rehabilitate the joint and promote a full recovery.

For severe ankle sprains, particularly, high ankle sprains, more aggressive treatments may be required. Your doctor will speak with you about these treatment options if that is the case.

Learn about Duke treatments.

Duke Orthopaedics treats common and severe ankle sprains at locations throughout North Carolina, including Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill.

Treatment Videos

Watch an educational video about ankle sprain treatments.