Ankle sprains: what’s normal, what’s not | A Nation in Motion

Ankle sprains: what’s normal, what’s not | A Nation in Motion

Ankle sprains: what’s normal, what’s not

Alexandra Page

Ankle sprains are the most common sports injuries, with an estimated 25,000 occurring every day in the US.
Sprains can happen with any sport, including just walking across the yard! Ankle sprains are most common in ball sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball and others.
What happens? The ankle is designed to have much more motion with the foot turning in, which is how sprains usually happen. The term “sprain” refers to any ligament injury. Ligaments are the tough fibers that connect bones to each other to give the skeleton strength while still allowing joints to move.
The most common ankle sprains involve tearing of the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The ligament tearing leads to bleeding deep inside, which you see as bruising on the skin. Fortunately, your body is designed to heal injuries, so these ligaments will almost always heal on their own.