A sprained ankle occurs when one of the ligaments that provides stability to the ankle is stretched or torn, according to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Ankle sprains most often occur when you roll your foot inward, stretching the ligaments on the outside of the foot. In addition to the often-painful effects that can occur immediately following an injury, a sprained ankle can have long-term effects.
Immediate Effects
When you sprain your ankle, the ligaments can stretch, partially tear or completely tear, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The immediate effects of your injury will vary based on the severity of your injury. If your sprain is mild, you may notice tenderness, pain, swelling and bruising. If the sprain is very severe, immediate effects can include inability to put weight on the foot, extreme swelling, foot numbness and stiffness.
Weeks After Injury
Swelling and redness should diminish following a sprain. However, you may experience residual stiffness in the weeks after the sprain occurred. Because the ligaments have stretched and must re-grow and strengthen, you also may have restricted range of motion, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is because your calf muscles may tighten as a means to protect your ankle while the body is healing, according to Sports Injury Clinic. While it can be tempting to resume normal activities, your ankle still may not be fully healed. In order to prevent re-injury, carefully follow your physician's instructions in resting the ankle.
Long-Term Effects
While most ankle sprains---even ligament tears---will heal with time, ankle sprains left untreated can lead to harmful long-term effects, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. An untreated ankle sprain can cause pain because the ligament was not able to heal effectively. In addition to pain, another effect is long-term instability. If the ankle does not heal properly, you may feel as if it constantly rolls inward. This is because the ligaments cannot provide the same support they used to, resulting in increased instability. Because instability can lead to re-injury, it is important to treat an ankle sprain whenever possible to ensure it fully heals. The injury also can contribute to early-onset arthritis in the ankle joint, according to the Mayo Clinic. This chronic condition results in pain, swelling and stiffness in the joint.
