Ankle injuries are among the most common in active people. Many sports put strain on ankles. By far, the weakest aspect of ankle stability is its muscular arrangement, because the long muscle tendons that cross on all sides of the ankle afford maximum muscle leverage but minimum stabilization. As a reliable, preventive measure, exercise and stretch regularly to strengthen your ankles. You can also take the precaution of using supports, such as tape or braces.
Sprained Ankle:
A sprained ankle frequently occurs during sports or activities like running, basketball, tennis, soccer and aerobic dancing. A previous injury or poor muscle strength can also increase the risk of injury. A sprained ankle is when you turn your ankle and the weight of your body pulls the ligaments in the ankle. The severity of the sprain depends on how many ligaments are damaged.
Mild and moderate sprains involve stretching/tearing of your ankle's ligaments. A severe sprain means one or more ligaments have been stretched or completely torn.
Symptoms of ankle sprain:
- pain, tenderness and bruising in the ankle
- spasms in surrounding muscles
- localized swelling
- instability
- pain when putting your weight on it
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