Ankle & foot
Ankle sprain
A rolled ankle that stays swollen, weak or keeps giving way.
Photograph: Juan Manuel Montejano Lopez, Pexels
In one paragraph
An ankle sprain stretches or tears the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, usually after a roll on a kerb, a step or a court. Most heal well, but an ankle that stays swollen, weak or keeps giving way needs rehabilitation: balance, strength and control, not just rest.
What you may notice
- 01
Swelling and bruising on the outer ankle after a roll.
- 02
The ankle gives way on uneven ground or turns again easily.
- 03
It never got its full bend back after a sprain months ago.
- 04
You do not trust it to run or jump.
The first visit
What is looked at
Ligament tests, a check for fracture signs, range, single-leg balance and hop tests; the grade of sprain sets the plan.
Treatment
What is done
Early movement and weight-bearing within pain, taping or a brace where needed, then progressive balance, calf strength and agility work until the ankle is reliable again.
See a doctor first if
If you could not take four steps straight after the injury, or the bone at the ankle or midfoot is tender to press, an X-ray comes first.
The range in question
The textbook full range for a healthy joint, the figure the assessment measures you against.
Questions
Should I wear a brace?
A brace helps in the early weeks and for the return to sport; balance and strength training is what stops the next sprain.
Why does my ankle keep turning?
After a sprain the ankle’s position sense is slower; without retraining, the muscles react late. That is what the rehabilitation programme rebuilds.
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