General information only. Not a diagnosis, and not a substitute for an assessment.

What is it?

A sprain is when a ligament is stretched or torn. A ligament is a strong band that holds bones together at a joint.

Ankle sprains usually happen when the foot rolls inwards. The ankle may be painful, swollen and bruised, and it might be hard to walk on.

Common causes

Rolling your ankle on uneven ground, a kerb or a step
Landing badly from a jump
Sports with quick changes of direction, like football or netball
A previous sprain that did not fully recover

When to get urgent help

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

you heard a crack when you hurt your ankle
your ankle has changed shape or is pointing at an odd angle
your foot or ankle is numb, tingling or has pins and needles
the skin around the injury has changed colour, such as blue or grey, or is cold to touch

You may have broken a bone and need an X-ray. Do not drive yourself.

Do not drive yourself to A&E. Ask someone to drive you, or call 999 for an ambulance.

Contact NHS 111 or your GP if:

it is very painful, or the pain is getting worse
there is a lot of swelling or bruising, or it is getting worse
it hurts to put weight on it
it feels very stiff or is hard to move
it is not getting better after looking after it yourself
you have a high temperature, or feel hot and shivery

You can call 111 or get help from NHS 111 online.

How physio can help

Checking how badly the ankle is hurt, and whether you might need an X-ray
Exercises to get your ankle moving, then stronger
Balance training, which helps stop it happening again
A step-by-step plan back to walking, work or sport

Everyone is different. We'll talk through what is likely to help you, and be honest if something else would suit you better.

What you can do at home

For the first 2 or 3 days: rest it, but keep moving it gently so it does not stiffen.
Hold a cold pack wrapped in a towel on it for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.
Raise it on a pillow when you can.
Start walking on it again gradually, as soon as you can.
A pharmacist can give you advice about pain relief.

Stop anything that makes your pain much worse, and get advice if you're not sure. Don't stop taking any medicine you've been prescribed without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

Treatments that may help

Initial assessment — 50 minutes, £65
Follow-up physiotherapy — 40 minutes, £55