What are the signs your ankle sprain may be severe? Ankle sprains are common injuries that can range from mild to severe. Understanding the severity of an ankle sprain is crucial for determining the right course of treatment and rehabilitation. A severe sprain could indicate a complete tear of the ligaments that support the ankle, and recognizing the signs early can help prevent further injury and ensure proper healing.
Understanding Ankle Sprains
What is an Ankle Sprain?
An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the ankle are stretched or torn, usually due to a sudden twist or turn. The ligaments on the outside of the ankle are most commonly affected. These injuries can lead to pain and swelling around the ankle, and in severe cases, a complete tear can occur. A sprained ankle can vary in severity, often categorized into different grades depending on the extent of the damage:
- Grade 1: Mild sprain with slight stretching and microscopic tears in the ligament fibers.
- Grade 2: Moderate sprain with partial tearing of the ligament.
- Grade 3: Severe sprain with a complete tear of the ligament.
Causes of Ankle Sprains
An ankle sprain can happen during various activities, from sports to simply walking on an uneven surface. The most common cause is a sudden twist or roll of the foot and ankle, which stretches or tears the ligaments. Factors like weak ankle strength, improper footwear, or previous ankle injuries can increase the risk of spraining your ankle. Recognizing the causes can help prevent future injuries and maintain ankle stability.
Types of Ankle Sprains
There are different types of ankle sprains, classified based on the severity of the ligament damage.
| Type of Sprain | Description |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 Sprain | Mild stretching with little swelling. |
| Grade 2 Sprain | Partial tearing of the ligament, moderate swelling and tenderness. |
| Grade 3 Sprain | Complete tear of the ligament, significant bruising, swelling, and ankle instability. |
| High Ankle Sprain | Affects ligaments higher up the ankle joint, may require more intensive treatment and longer rehabilitation. |
Signs and Symptoms of a Severe Ankle Sprain
Unusual Swelling and Bruising
One of the telltale signs of a severe ankle sprain is unusual swelling and bruising around the ankle. When you sprain your ankle, the ligaments that support the ankle are overstretched or torn, leading to inflammation. In severe sprains, particularly a grade 3 injury, the swelling can be pronounced, and bruising may extend to the foot and ankle. This discoloration results from small blood vessels breaking under the skin, and it can be quite alarming. Addressing this promptly is crucial to facilitate proper healing and to help prevent further complications.
Inability to Bear Weight
If you find that you’re unable to bear weight on your injured ankle, it could be a sign of a severe sprain. A sprained ankle may limit your range of motion, but with a severe sprain, the pain and instability can make walking or standing unbearable. This inability is often due to a complete tear of the ankle ligament, which compromises the support your ankle provides. It’s essential to differentiate this from a broken ankle, which shares similar symptoms but may require an x-ray for a definitive diagnosis.
Prolonged Pain and Discomfort
Experiencing prolonged pain and discomfort after an ankle injury is another indicator of a severe sprain. While mild sprains may heal within a few weeks, a severe sprain, such as a high ankle sprain or a grade 3 sprain, can result in ongoing pain and tenderness. This persistent discomfort might suggest underlying issues like instability in the ankle joint or even a chronic ankle sprain. Proper treatment and rehabilitation are necessary to restore function and prevent long-term complications, ensuring that your ankle regains its strength and stability.
How to Treat a Sprained Ankle
Rehabilitation Techniques
Rehabilitation is crucial for restoring strength and range of motion to a sprained ankle. Once the initial pain and swelling have subsided, exercises like ankle stretches and balance drills can help. These activities aim to strengthen the ligaments that support the ankle and improve its flexibility. Consistent rehabilitation can prevent chronic ankle sprains and ensure the ankle joint regains full function.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If you’re experiencing severe pain, instability, or if you suspect a complete tear of the ligament, it’s important to seek medical attention. Persistent symptoms, such as inability to bear weight or prolonged discomfort, could indicate a more serious injury like a high ankle sprain. A healthcare professional can provide a proper diagnosis, possibly using an x-ray to rule out a broken ankle, and recommend a tailored treatment plan.
Recovery and Healing Process
Timeline for Ankle to Heal
The healing timeline for an ankle sprain can vary depending on the severity and even more importantly, what you do to heal. A mild sprain, or grade 1, may heal in a days or up to a few weeks, while a grade 2 sprain might take several days, but could last months or longer. Severe sprains like grade 3 could require a few weeks or potentially months to years to heal. Consistent care and following a rehabilitation program are essential for ensuring your ankle heals properly AND quickly and avoids future injuries.
Exercises for Rehabilitation
Engaging in specific exercises is vital for rehabilitating a sprained ankle. Start with gentle ankle stretches to increase flexibility, then progress to strength-building activities and balance exercises. These exercises support the ligaments and improve ankle stability. Incorporating these into your routine can speed up recovery and help prevent future sprains by enhancing ankle strength and stability.
Preventing Future Ankle Injuries
Preventing future ankle injuries involves strengthening the muscles around your ankle and maintaining good balance. Regularly performing exercises that target the ankle’s range of motion and stability can be beneficial. Wearing appropriate footwear, especially during physical activities, and being cautious on uneven surfaces can also help prevent spraining your ankle again. Taking these proactive measures supports long-term ankle health.
Managing Sprained Ankles at Home with HEM Ankle Rehab
When dealing with a sprained ankle, the HEM Ankle Rehab method offers an effective home treatment option. This approach focuses on reducing swelling and promoting healing through exercises and movements that improve the range of motion. The HEM method emphasizes rest, ice, compression, and elevation, which are crucial to alleviate pain and swelling. This self-managed regimen can help speed up recovery and restore mobility.
Secret of the Pros
Everything You Need To Heal At Home
So, Why Rehab?
Most people think rest and ice will heal their ankle (even a severe sprain), but they end up with chronic ankle instability… 30% still have pain one year later!
And that causes all kinds of muscle imbalances in the body, which can lead more serious injuries, repeated ankle sprains and chronic ankle pain. It’s a terrible domino effect that can last for life.
That’s Where Rehab Comes In.
A great rehab program significantly improves how a sprained ankle heals. It eliminates pain fast and ensures your ankles are strong and stable with healthy range of motion, which helps prevent future sprains.
Rehab Is The Key To
Healing Ankle Injuries Fast
Recent studies have shown that rehab heals ankle ligaments safely and effectively. It’s the difference between the people that don’t heal a sprained ankle and the ones that do!
Injured Ankle
Without Rehab
Injured Ankle
With Rehab
HEM Ankle Rehab “Rehabs” Your Ankle
HEM is a complete ankle rehab and prehab program for the entire ankle, foot and calf complex. This is a very thorough program that contains so much more than anything else you can find online, but it’s still easy to do.
Scott will coach you through every step, as if you are with him, one on one. Just follow along with the videos to rebuild your ankle from the ground up.
You can expect pain free mobility and strong, stable ankles that are protected from an ankle sprain, without ankle braces!
REAL PEOPLE, REAL RESULTS
-
Greg Shaible, DPT, Licensed Physical Therapist ,| -
Wayne Slappy, S.H.O.T.T.S. Basketball Academy ,| -
Steven Kornfeld, CPT, PES, CES, FMS ,| -
Casey Moriarty, Owner, The Runner's Resource ,|
From Scott Malin, NASM-CPT, CES
Creator, HEM Ankle Rehab
October 23, 2025
Fifteen years ago, I had to give up what I love doing most… playing basketball. I sprained my ankles so many times that I could no longer play. It was devastating.
Like you, I used R.I.C.E. (rest, ice elevation, compression), but my ankles healed so slowly and badly, they eventually got so weak, I would sprain them just walking down the street!
Being a fitness trainer, the only thing I had going for me was a fascination with helping people get out of pain and strengthening their bodies.
So, I decided to research all the cutting edge techniques to heal an ankle sprain much faster and better than R.I.C.E.
After months of research, I discovered that icing an injury can have a negative affect on the body’s healing process. Studies show that ice can actually slow down healing and too much rest left the ankles weak and unstable. This was shocking, but only part of the story…
New research was suggesting a much more proactive approach to healing that involved much better rehab techniques proven to dramatically speed up the speed and quality of the healing process.
Instead of months, healing took only days. And, if you had a chronically weak ankle that was in pain, these techniques would quickly strengthen and stabilize the ankles.
I kept improving on these techniques, drawing from many different disciplines and simplified them.
Eventually, after many more months of trial and error, I created a simple at-home healing system with very reliable results.
Since I was a fitness trainer, I was able to help all my clients (celebrities and athletes) whenever they got injured. I was even on the news a few times.
The response from my clients and friends was so overwhelming that a few of them eventually convinced me to share it with everyone.
Today, I am humbled that over 100,000 people have healed fully and fast with my program.
So, if you have any kind of ankle injury (new or old), just follow along with me in the videos and I’ll show you exactly what to do until you are completely pain free.
My message is simple… you do not have to give up what you love. And you do not have to live with chronic pain from old injuries. Life is too short and there is a better way!
I truly hope you will start using my program so you can get your life back and do what you love, pain free (and yes, I still play basketball every week and LOVE it!)
Thank you!
Scott
Heal Your Ankle FAST ⇣
30 day money back guarantee
15 YEARS. 100K HEALED.
Secret of the Pros
Everything You Need To Heal At Home
REAL PEOPLE,
REAL RESULTS
So, Why Rehab?
Most people think rest and ice will heal their ankle (even a severe sprain), but they end up with chronic ankle instability… 30% still have pain one year later!
And that causes all kinds of muscle imbalances in the body, which can lead more serious injuries, repeated ankle sprains and chronic ankle pain. It’s a terrible domino effect that can last for life.
That’s Where Rehab Comes In.
A great rehab program significantly improves how a sprained ankle heals. It eliminates pain fast and ensures your ankles are strong and stable with healthy range of motion, which helps prevent future sprains.
Rehab Is The Key To
Healing Ankle Injuries Fast
Recent studies have shown that rehab heals ankle ligaments safely and effectively. It’s the difference between the people that don’t heal a sprained ankle and the ones that do!
Injured Ankle
Without Rehab
Injured Ankle
With Rehab
HEM Ankle Rehab
“Rehabs” Your Ankle
HEM is a complete ankle rehab and prehab program for the entire ankle, foot and calf complex. This is a very thorough program that contains so much more than anything else you can find online, but it’s still easy to do.
Scott will coach you through every step, as if you are with him, one on one. Just follow along with the videos to rebuild your ankle from the ground up.
You can expect pain free mobility and strong, stable ankles that are protected from an ankle sprain, without ankle braces!
100,000 PEOPLE HEALED-
-
-
Casey Moriarty,
Owner, The Runner's Resource
,
|
-
-
-
-
Greg Shaible, DPT,
Licensed Physical Therapist
,
|
-
-
Wayne Slappy,
S.H.O.T.T.S. Basketball Academy
,
|
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Steven Kornfeld,
CPT, PES, CES, FMS
,
|
-
-
Casey Moriarty, Owner, The Runner's Resource ,|
-
Greg Shaible, DPT, Licensed Physical Therapist ,|
-
Wayne Slappy, S.H.O.T.T.S. Basketball Academy ,|
-
Steven Kornfeld, CPT, PES, CES, FMS ,|
From Scott Malin, NASM-CPT, CES
Creator, HEM Ankle Rehab
October 23, 2025
Fifteen years ago, I had to give up what I love doing most… playing basketball. I sprained my ankles so many times that I could no longer play. It was devastating.
Like you, I used R.I.C.E. (rest, ice elevation, compression), but my ankles healed so slowly and badly, they eventually got so weak, I would sprain them just walking down the street!
Being a fitness trainer, the only thing I had going for me was a fascination with helping people get out of pain and strengthening their bodies.
So, I decided to research all the cutting edge techniques to heal an ankle sprain much faster and better than R.I.C.E.
After months of research, I discovered that icing an injury can have a negative affect on the body’s healing process. Studies show that ice can actually slow down healing and too much rest left the ankles weak and unstable. This was shocking, but only part of the story…
New research was suggesting a much more proactive approach to healing that involved much better rehab techniques proven to dramatically speed up the speed and quality of the healing process.
Instead of months, healing took only days. And, if you had a chronically weak ankle that was in pain, these techniques would quickly strengthen and stabilize the ankles.
I kept improving on these techniques, drawing from many different disciplines and simplified them.
Eventually, after many more months of trial and error, I created a simple at-home healing system with very reliable results.
Since I was a fitness trainer, I was able to help all my clients (celebrities and athletes) whenever they got injured. I was even on the news a few times.
The response from my clients and friends was so overwhelming that a few of them eventually convinced me to share it with everyone.
Today, I am humbled that over 100,000 people have healed fully and fast with my program.
So, if you have any kind of ankle injury (new or old), just follow along with me in the videos and I’ll show you exactly what to do until you are completely pain free.
My message is simple… you do not have to give up what you love. And you do not have to live with chronic pain from old injuries. Life is too short and there is a better way!
I truly hope you will start using my program so you can get your life back and do what you love, pain free (and yes, I still play basketball every week and LOVE it!)
Thank you!
Scott
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