A sprain is an injury to a ligament. PRICE (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) and avoiding HARM (Heat, Alcohol, Running, and Massage) is commonly advised for the first 48-72 hours after a sprained ankle. Painkillers may be needed. Most sprains heal within a few weeks. Physiotherapy may help. Surgery may be needed for severe sprains where the ligament ruptures (tears badly).

If you have an ankle injury, it is sometimes difficult to tell if you have a bone fracture. Therefore, see a doctor or nurse if you suspect that you have a fracture. This information assumes you know that you have a sprained ankle (for example, having been told by a doctor or nurse) and nothing more serious.

What is a sprain?

A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Ligaments are strong tissues around joints which attach bones together. They give support to joints. A ligament can be injured, usually by being stretched during a sudden pull. The ligaments around the ankle are the ones most commonly sprained. The severity of a sprain is graded into:

Grade I – mild stretching of the ligament without joint instability.

Grade II – partial rupture (tear) of the ligament but without causing joint instability.

Grade III – complete rupture (tear) of the ligament with instability of the joint.

A damaged ligament causes inflammation, swelling, and bleeding (bruising) around the affected joint. Movement of the ankle joint is painful when you have a sprained ankle.

How can we help you?

Physiotherapy may help for more severe sprains, or if symptoms are not settling. We can advise on exercises and may give heat, ultrasound, or other treatments. The aim of physiotherapy includes:

To get the ankle joint back to a full range of normal movement.

To improve the strength of the surrounding muscles. The stronger the muscles, the less likely a sprain will recur.

Exercises designed to improve proprioception. This is the ability of your brain to sense movement and position of your body parts and joints such as the ankle. Good proprioception helps you to make immediate, unconscious minor adjustments to the way you walk when walking over uneven ground. This helps to prevent you overstretching ligaments and causing further sprains.