In the case of an inward ankle sprain, the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are strained. Sometimes this involves only stretching. In other cases, the ligaments may be partially or completely damaged.

Even after recovery, the ankle may remain unstable. As a result, you may sprain your ankle again more easily or continue to experience pain on the outside of the ankle.

An inversion injury is usually caused by a sudden movement in which the ankle twists awkwardly. This puts a great deal of strain on the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.

Possible causes include:

a misstep in which the foot turns inwards;
to land awkwardly after a jump, step or landing;
turning, twisting or landing awkwardly whilst playing sport or at work;
smoothness;
walking or running on uneven ground;
an unexpected external force, such as a collision or someone landing on one’s foot;
previous ankle sprains;
an abnormal foot position, causing you to walk more on the outer edge of the foot;
weak ankle muscles;
impaired balance;
shoes with little support.

The pain is usually on the outside of the ankle. Swelling often develops quickly and sometimes a bruise appears.

You may notice that:

if you suddenly feel a sharp pain;
standing or walking is painful;
the ankle becomes swollen or bruised;
the ankle feels unstable;
you’re worried about spraining it again;
exercising or walking on uneven ground remains difficult.

A healthy lifestyle supports recovery from an ankle sprain. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet and gradually increasing physical activity help the body to recover.

Exercise remains important, but must be tailored to what the ankle can cope with. Sitting still for too long can cause the ankle to remain stiff and unstable. Resuming excessive walking, sport or jumping too quickly can actually make the symptoms worse.

That is why it is important to ensure a good balance between physical activity, exercise and rest. Mental health also plays a part. After a sprain, you may feel unsteady when walking or exercising. A gradual return to activity helps to regain confidence. Our lifestyle coaches can support you in making changes that suit your situation and capabilities.

Check whether you can take four or more steps without assistance after the sprain. If not, please contact your GP or the GP out-of-hours service. This is important to rule out a fracture.

To reduce symptoms, you can:

set the ankle high only during the first period;
cool down if that feels comfortable;
continue to move carefully;
temporarily restrict sport;
wear sturdy shoes;
gradually build up balance and strength exercises;
Please contact us if the pain or swelling does not subside.

Our podiatrists can help with persistent pain, instability or recurrent ankle sprains. We assess foot position, ankle stability and gait.

Treatment may consist of:

podiatric insoles;
shoe advice;
advice on a brace;
exercises for balance and stability;
advice on building up a fitness programme;
collaboration with a physiotherapist.

Together, we will look at how to make your ankle more stable again and how you can prevent further sprains as much as possible.

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Inward ankle sprain

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