A ligament is a band of elastic connective tissue in the body that connects a bone to a bone in a joint. The ligament works to keep the bones in place. A sprain is an injury to a ligament. The injury may include a stretching of the ligament or a tear to the tissue. An ankle is a common joint in the body to experience a sprain, according to the Mayo Clinic. A simple twisting motion of the ankle, causing the joint to turn incorrectly, may cause the sprain. Symptoms of a sprained ankle vary depending on the severity of the injury.
Pain
Pain to the ankle occurs immediately when the sprain occurs. Localized pain may occur in the ankle, or the pain may radiate to the foot. The pain generally increases when weight is placed on the ankle or foot, such as when walking. Pain from a mild sprain might resolve within hours or a day, and a severe sprain can take a couple of months to heal fully, states the Merck Manual of Health Information. The area may also be tender to touch.
Edema
The swelling to the ankle after a sprain ranges from mild to severe, depending on the ligament injury. Mild swelling resolves within a few days. A torn ligament may continue to experience swelling for weeks. Icing the injury and elevating the ankle several times a day helps treat the swelling and provide comfort. In addition to the swelling, the foot may feel cold or numb, states the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Decreased Movement
The sprained ankle may experience a decreased range of motion. The injured ligaments may cause stiffness and pain when moved. This decreases the normal movement of the ankle.
Bruising
Along with the pain and swelling, a sprained ankle may have bruising. The bruising results from the damaged tissue. A moderate to severe sprained ankle experiences bruising more often than a mild sprain.
Instability
A severely injured ligament in the ankle may no longer provide stability to the joint. The sprained ankle requires support with a splint, elasticized wrap or cast to properly heal and decrease the possibility of worsening the injury. Keeping the joint stabilized and removing all weight off the ankle helps decrease complications. Some sprains are severe enough to warrant surgery to repair the ligaments and restore function and stability to the joint.
