Ankle ligament injury

Video Transcript

Ankle ligament injury - Animation

While playing basketball, this player sprained his ankle. Probably not a good idea to play without shoes! Symptoms of a sprain include swelling and discoloration near the affected area. A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched or torn. Ligaments, such as those of the ankle, are bands or sheets of regular, tough fibrous tissue that connect bones together. Here is the normal state of the ankle and it’s ligaments. Depending on the severity of the injury, the ligaments may be stretched, as in a Type One ankle sprain. Slightly torn, classified as a Type Two sprain, or completely torn, making it a Type Three sprain. Treatment for a Type One sprain should include Rest, Ice, Compression and Immobilization, and Elevation of the affected area. This is easy to remember if you think of the acronym RICE. If you suspect a ligament is torn or completely severed, see your medical care professional for treatment.

Review Date: 4/24/2023

Reviewed By

C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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