Ankle Sprain

Ankle Sprains come in three grades

• Grade 1- Ligament stretch; Comes with mild-moderate pain, light swelling, ankle is stable, You can walk with some discomfort
• Grade 2; Partial tear, Bruising is noticeable, Swelling and moderate to high pain with weight.
• Grade 3; Complete tear; Severe bruising and swelling, intense pain and a really unstable ankle, usually cannot bear weight on the foot.

Here is a simple way to assess the severity of your sprain.

1. Can you walk 10 steps without aid or without limping?
2. Can you move your ankle freely on all directions?
3. Can you stand on the affected side?
4. Your walking distance has not been affected?

If the answer to all of these is YES then you possibly had a Grade 1 sprain, recommendation is to rest form 1-3 days and gradually return to activity. 

What if my ankle is not improving?

Some sprains require more time to heal (specially G2-3), but if no gradual loading and training is performed at the right time, small injuries can still affect the stability of the ankle in the future, this is known as Chronic Ankle Instability. To prevent this, early consultation is crucial to quickly assess and treat. The earlier you start your rehab the better.

How long is going to take to get better?

Depending on the severity of the ankle sprain healing time can last from 4 weeks on mild injuries, to over 12 weeks on more severe ones. Non treated ankles can take longer to recover full function. The time to return to sport can also vary depending on different factors.

Will I ever go back to sports if I had a bad sprain?

Approximately > 60% of ankle sprains have good prognosis and will recover function fully, there are many factors that can influence your outcomes:

1. Consistent early rehabilitation: research shows that balance training and strength exercises significantly reduce the risk of reinjury and improve outcomes.
2. Biomechanical and neuromuscular deficiencies; Poor sense of stability, muscle imbalances and postural control can increase the likelihood of reinjury
3. Severity and location of the injury; Depending on which ligament was affected and to which extent can affect the time to return to sport/function
4. Previous ankle sprains: People with prior history of ankle sprains are more likely to experience chronic instability and might need longer rehabilitation.

How can I help my ankle heal quicker?

Stay positive! Research shows than an educated patient (someone who is following resting-loading advise and understands their injury) will have better outcomes on the long term with a reduced risk of new injuries.

See our blog on PEACE AND LOVE for managing soft tissue injuries

Research: Bergman R, Shuman VL. Acute Ankle Sprain. [Updated 2025 Aug 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459212/