Ankle Sprains

What is an Ankle Sprain?

An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments that support your ankle are stretched or torn beyond their normal range. These ligaments connect the bones of your ankle joint and provide stability during movement. The most common type is a lateral ankle sprain, affecting the ligaments on the outside of your ankle.

Ankle sprains are graded from 1-3 based on severity: Grade 1 involves mild stretching, Grade 2 includes partial tearing with moderate instability, and Grade 3 represents complete ligament rupture with significant joint instability.

What Causes Ankle Sprains?

Ankle sprains typically result from the ankle rolling, twisting, or turning in an awkward way:

Common mechanisms:

  • Rolling your ankle inward (inversion sprain - most common)

  • Landing awkwardly on someone's foot or uneven surface

  • Sudden change of direction during sport

  • Stepping in a hole or off a kerb unexpectedly

  • Twisting movements during cutting or pivoting

Risk factors:

  • Previous ankle sprains (significantly increases re-injury risk)

  • Poor proprioception (joint position awareness)

  • Muscle weakness, particularly in the calf and peroneal muscles

  • Inadequate warm-up before activity

  • Fatigue during sport or exercise

  • Inappropriate footwear for the activity or surface

  • Playing on uneven or unstable surfaces

High-risk activities:

  • Football, basketball, netball, rugby

  • Trail running or hiking

  • Dancing and gymnastics

  • Any sport involving jumping and landing

What Are the Symptoms?

Ankle sprain symptoms vary depending on the severity of injury:

Immediate symptoms:

  • Pain at the moment of injury

  • Swelling around the ankle joint

  • Bruising and discolouration

  • Difficulty bearing weight on the affected foot

  • Limited range of motion

Ongoing symptoms:

  • Persistent pain, especially with movement

  • Joint stiffness and reduced flexibility

  • Feeling of instability or the ankle "giving way"

  • Tenderness when touching the injured area

  • Weakness in the surrounding muscles

Functional limitations:

  • Difficulty with stairs, particularly going down

  • Unsteadiness on uneven surfaces

  • Reduced confidence during sporting activities

  • Compensatory walking patterns affecting other joints

Dealing with an ankle injury? Our specialist team provides comprehensive assessment and treatment for ankle sprains, from acute injury management to preventing future re-injury. We use advanced testing including jump analysis to ensure your ankle returns to full function and performance.

Dealing with an ankle injury? Our specialist team provides comprehensive assessment and treatment for ankle sprains, from acute injury management to preventing future re-injury. We use advanced testing including jump analysis to ensure your ankle returns to full function and performance.