A sprained ankle is one of the most common injuries caused by participation in sports. It refers to soft tissue damage around the ankle, usually caused by twisting the ankle inwards or outwards. Because of the position of the bones around the ankle the more common injury is to twist the ankle inward. This injury causes damage to the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. In the case of an outwards injury the damage occurs on the inner side of the ankle. The ligament on the inside of the ankle is called the deltoid ligament and is very strong. It is so strong in fact that the bone on the inside of the ankle can be pulled off (avulsion fracture) before the ligament is damaged. The damage caused by spraining the ankle can cause bleeding within the tissue, leading to swelling and pain.
