Ankle Sprain

Foot & Ankle Conditions

1. Ankle Instability
2. Ankle Impingement
3. OCD of Talus
4. Foot Drop
5. Arthritis around Ankle


1. Insertional Achilles Tendinosis
2. Haglund's deformity
3. Planter Fasciitis
4. Other cause of heel pain


1. Flat foot/Pes planus
2. High Arched foot/Cavus foot/ Pes cavus
3. Mid foot Arthritis
4. Stress fracture
5. Planter fibromatosis
6. Deformity of Foot Arch
7. Accessory Navicular


1. Hallux valgus/Bunion
2. Hallux rigidus
3. Hallux varus
4. ingrowing toenail
5. Painfull sesamoids
6. Arthritis around Great Toe


1. Mallet toe
2. Hammer toe
3. Claw Toe
4. Bunionet


1. Complex deformities- cross over toe, Rheumatoid foot
2. Athlets feet
3. Corn's & Callosities
4. Morton's Neuroma
5. Metatersalgia


1. Non insertional Achilles Tendinosis
2. Achilles Tendon Injury / rupture
3. Tibialis Posterior Tendon Dysfunction
4. Flexor Hallucis tendon irritation
5. Peroneal Tendinopathy


1. Ankle Sprain
2. Ankle Fractures
3. Talus fracture
4. Calcaneum Fracture
5. Lisfranc's Injury
6. Midfoot fracture
7. fracture metatersal neck
8. Turf Toe injury

Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprain is injury of lateral ankle ligaments, happens when it rolls, turn or twist awkwardly. Various other injuries of outer aspect of ankle and foot can also mimic ankle sprain. Most of the time ankle sprain is ignored and results a long term morbidity.

Stability of ankle during inward heel movement is less than outward heel movement. While walking on uneven surface or during landing if the heel moves more away from the vertical weight bearing axis of body then its weight forces the heel to move further beyond the capacity of the ligaments and its fibres may get stretched or torn. Other than ligament tendon and bones on outer aspect of the ankle and foot can also get injured, like peroneal tendon, anterior process of calcaneum, base of 5th metatarsal. Same mechanism of injury can also result in ankle fracture depending on the force affecting the injury.

There are few factors which increases the probability of ankle sprain like,

  • Walking and landing on uneven surface
  • Participation of sports and recreation activities involved high force landing and pivoting force
  • Miscalculation of the distance of landing
  • Wearing a faulty or inappropriate foot wear, high heel shoe
  • Previous ankle injury
  • Generalised laxity of the joints
  • Inward alignment of heel bone in cavo-varus foot

One may feel pop at the time of injury followed by pain, swelling ecchymosis at lateral aspect of ankle and inability to walk.

You should always visit a specialist foot and ankle specialist as neglected ankle sprain may led to chronic ankle instability with significant morbidity.

He will examine your foot to find out the exact location of tenderness and math with anatomic location of ligaments. Most of the time x-ray is not required but if there is significant bone tenderness then your doctor will ask for an x-ray to rule out any fracture. He may also ask for an MRI in high grade sprain.

Treatment of ankle sprain is rest, immobilisation, elevation, ice pack and NSAIDs in acute phase followed by rehabilitation to regain ankle movement, muscle strength and proprioception. Most of the ankle sprain heals completely but some may turn out to chronic ankle instability, OCD of talus and ankle impingement. Very rarely acute reconstruction of ligament is required.