Available from your pharmacist without a prescription

Ankle sprain

A sprained ankle occurs when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way, which stretches or tears the strong bands of connective tissue (called ligaments) that help stabilise your ankle and hold it together.¹ The good news is that most sprains heal with simple first aid measures like ice, elevation, pain medicines and simple exercises.^2,3 Find out more below, including when to see your doctor for further investigation.

Understanding ankle sprain

The ankle joint is specifically designed to provide stability. Three bones are precisely shaped to interlock and give stability, while a number of ligaments stabilise the joint and prevent excessive or sideways movement of the ankle.^1-3

Acute ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the ankle stretch beyond their limits, sometimes resulting in a tear.^1-3

Sprains can range from tiny tears in the fibers of the ligament, to partial or even complete tears. The severity of the ankle sprain will also depend on the number of ligaments that have been affected.³

Causes of ankle sprain

Often you will be able to recall how you sprained your ankle. Sprains can occur during many different activities, at work, playing sport or just while running everyday errands.

Common causes of ankle sprain include:^1-3

• Walking or exercising on an uneven surface
• Falling or tripping
• Participating in activities that require running, jumping and change of direction
• Weak muscles around the ankle joint or ligament scarring and excess looseness, due to previous ankle sprains.

Symptoms of ankle sprain

The symptoms of a sprained ankle depend on the severity of the injury: How many ligaments have been affected? Did you stretch or tear the ligament? If it is a tear, was it a full or partial tear?

Some common symptoms include:^1-3

• Pain in the ankle joint when trying to move it or when walking, particularly when the knee extends over the foot
• Swelling of the ankle
• Bruising and tenderness to touch
• Restricted range of motion
• Instability in the ankle; a feeling your ankle is ‘giving out’
• Popping sensation or sound at the time of an injury

Managing acute ankle sprain

The initial treatment of ankle sprain should follow the RICE principles of Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation:^2,3

• Rest: Stop the activity that caused the injury and rest the injured ankle
• Ice: Apply ice immediately to relieve pain and minimise swelling; it can be used for 15 minutes, every 2 hours
• Compress: Bandaging the ankle will help support the injury and may also help to control swelling
• Elevation: If possible, raise the ankle above heart height to help control swelling

Anti-inflammatory medicines like CELEBREX RELIEF^® can also help control pain and swelling, and is available from your pharmacist without a prescription. In addition, physical therapy like physio can improve flexibility, strength and balance.³

When to see a doctor

While self-care measures and over-the-counter pain medicines may be all you need, a medical evaluation might be necessary to reveal how badly you’ve sprained your ankle and to determine the appropriate treatment.¹

See a doctor if symptoms are severe and do not improve with self-care; your doctor may need to intervene to fix an underlying problem, such as a full ligament tear or broken bone.¹