If you feel pain following a twist or injury, swelling, and bruising, these could be symptoms of a sprained ankle. Ankle sprains are caused by an unnatural twisting or force on the ankle bones of your foot. One or more of your ligaments may have have excessive force on it. If you don't properly treat an ankle sprain, it could become a long-term problem. The type and duration of treatment depends on how bad the sprain is.
We treat ankle sprains by resting and elevating the ankle and applying ice to reduce swelling. Compressive bandages also may be used to immobilize and support the injury during healing. Serious ankle sprains may require surgery to repair the damaged ligaments.
To prevent ankle sprains, it's important to maintain strength, balance, and flexibility in the foot and ankle through staying active and wearing the right shoes for exercise and daily use.