In the case of an outward ankle sprain, the ligaments around the ankle are stretched or damaged. Most of the strain occurs on the inside of the ankle.

Sometimes pain also occurs on the outside of the ankle because structures there become trapped. The severity of the condition can range from a mild sprain to significant ligament damage.

An outward ankle sprain is often caused by a sudden movement in which the ankle twists the wrong way. This puts a great deal of strain on the inside of the ankle.

Following a previous sprain, the ankle may remain more sensitive or unstable. As a result, another sprain may occur more quickly.

Possible causes of an outward ankle sprain include:

a misstep in which the foot turns outwards;
to land awkwardly after a jump, step or landing;
walking or running on uneven ground;
turning, twisting or landing awkwardly whilst playing sport or at work;
a fall;
an unexpected external force, such as a collision or someone landing on one’s foot;
an abnormal position of the foot;
ankle instability;
shoes with insufficient support.

Symptoms often arise immediately after spraining the ankle. At first, the ankle may mainly feel tender, but sometimes the symptoms become more pronounced later on.

You may notice that:

if you feel pain immediately after spraining your ankle;
standing or walking is painful;
the ankle is getting thicker;
the area turns blue (bruise);
the ankle feels slightly less stable;
you’re afraid of twisting your ankle again;
The pain keeps coming back when doing sport or on uneven ground.

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 playing sport. A gradual return to activity helps to regain confidence. Our lifestyle coaches We can work with you to identify which lifestyle changes might help to reduce your symptoms or make them more manageable.

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:

elevate the foot during the initial period;
cool the ankle only if it feels comfortable;
continue to move carefully within your pain threshold;
avoid sport for the time being;
wear sturdy shoes;
gradually build up exercises as soon as walking improves;
Seek help if the pain or swelling does not subside after a few days.

Our podiatrists We can help if you continue to experience symptoms after an ankle sprain. We can also help if you frequently sprain your ankle. We will assess your foot position, stability and gait.

Treatment may consist of:

shoe advice;
podiatry insoles to improve posture and stability;
advice on a brace;
exercises for stability and muscle strength;
advice on building up a fitness programme;
collaboration with a physiotherapist.

If you are unsure whether there is a fracture or serious tyre damage, please refer the patient back to their GP.

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Outward ankle sprain

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