 An ankle sprain is damage to one or more of the ligaments that support the ankle joint. There will almost always be an ‘incident’ wherein the ankle rolls and the person looses their footing. This is normally followed with pain over the front and side of the ankle. You may be able to walk on the foot again immediately, or be unable to bear any weight on the foot at all. Symptoms include pain, swelling and bruising and loss of range due to the previous two symptoms. Healing is quite slow as ligaments have a poor blood supply and guided physiotherapy is essential for both assessment, diagnosis and successful rehabilitation. It is important to continue rehab until discharge, as incomplete treatment will leave the ankle vulnerable to further sprains
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