Ankle Ligament Sprain

One of the most common types of ankle sprains is an inversion injury, which occurs when there is a strain or tear in the three main ligaments located on the outer (or lateral) side of the ankle. These ligaments are:

1. Anterior Talofibular Ligament (ATFL)
2. Calcaneofibular Ligament (CFL)
3. Posterior Talofibular Ligament (PTFL)

In an inversion injury, the foot inadvertently rolls inward, and the ankle moves out over the foot, causing the muscle in the ankle to be sprained or torn. The ATFL is the most commonly injured of the three ankle ligaments, followed by the CFL and PTFL. 

When you sprain your ankle, it’s not just the ligaments that can be injured. There’s also a chance you could break one of the bones on the outside of your ankle (called the lateral malleolus) or the bone on the outside of your foot (the 5th metatarsal). 

Another type of ankle sprain we sometimes see is called a high ankle sprain. This happens when your shin is pushed too far forward over a planted foot. This kind of movement can damage the strong ligaments that connect the two bones in your lower leg (the tibia and fibula), making it a more serious injury than a typical ankle sprain.  

Ankle sprains are classified into three grades, with Grade 1 being the mildest and Grade 3 being the most severe. Grades 1 and 2 are usually diagnosed during your physio appointment using a range of movement and stability tests. If a Grade 3 sprain is suspected (or even a complex Grade 2 sprain), we will recommend an MRI to get a clearer picture of the injury. 

RICER stands for rest, ice, compression, elevation and referral. It is a popular recovery method often encouraged by medical practitioners when there’s an injury to your ankle ligaments. Our physiotherapists use it as the first line of treatment for ankle sprains, as it can help reduce initial pain and excessive inflammation. 

However, we only advise this for the first 48 to 72 hours of the injury. Ideally, we want to progress to active movement and recovery as soon as possible. If your ankle injury persists after 72 hours, please speak to our team as soon as possible.  

The best way to avoid re-injury or chronic ankle instability is by diligently rehabilitating the initial injury with a tailored program. Our healthcare professionals will work with you to ensure you regain full control and balance of your ankle ligaments, either through strength work, pilates, education, taping, and bracing.