Ankle sprains are so common that a lot of athletes brush them off, tape it up, and keep playing. That’s often a mistake. A poorly rehabbed ankle sprain is one of the most common causes of repeat ankle injuries and long-term instability in sport.
What actually happens in a sprain
Most ankle sprains happen when the foot rolls inward, stretching or tearing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. It’s a classic mechanism in basketball, soccer, running on uneven ground, and landing awkwardly from a jump. Like other ligament injuries, ankle sprains are graded 1 through 3 based on severity, from a mild stretch to a complete tear.
Why “walking it off” causes problems later
The ankle relies on proprioception, your body’s sense of where the joint is in space, to react quickly to uneven ground and prevent re-injury. A sprain damages that sense along with the ligament itself. If you don’t retrain it properly, the ankle stays vulnerable even after the pain and swelling go away, which is a big part of why ankle sprains are so often repeat injuries.
What proper treatment looks like
Early treatment focuses on managing swelling and protecting the joint while it starts to heal. Once the acute pain settles, rehab shifts to restoring range of motion, rebuilding strength, and retraining balance and proprioception, the part most people skip. Return to sport should include testing cutting, jumping, and landing, not just walking without pain.
When to get it checked
See someone if you can’t bear weight on it, the swelling and bruising are significant, it’s not improving after a few days, or you’ve sprained the same ankle more than once. Recurring sprains usually mean the first one wasn’t fully rehabbed.
Getting assessed in Calgary
At Action Sports Clinic, we assess the grade of the sprain, rule out other injuries like a fracture or high ankle sprain, and build a rehab plan that actually addresses balance and control, not just pain.
Already dealing with repeat sprains and lingering looseness? Read more on chronic ankle instability and how poor balance contributes to ankle sprains.
Dealing with an ankle sprain? Learn more about our sports physiotherapy or request an assessment.