Sprained ankle
You may well recognise this: you take a wrong step, your ankle twists, and you feel pain straight away. Afterwards, the ankle may feel tender, swollen or unstable. Walking, exercising or putting weight on the ankle can then become difficult.
A sprained ankle often occurs suddenly, for example whilst playing sport, taking a wrong step or walking on uneven ground. Most ankle sprains heal on their own. However, symptoms can sometimes recur, particularly if the ankle remains less stable or if you sprain it frequently.
What is it?
A sprained ankle involves the ligaments being stretched or damaged. Sometimes, damage also occurs to the joint capsule, tendons or cartilage.
The ankle can be sprained either inwards or outwards. The most common type of sprain is an inwards sprain of the ankle. This causes pain on the outside of the ankle.
