Health guide · Podiatry · Physical therapy
Torn ligament in ankle: symptoms, treatment and recovery time
How to tell if you’ve torn an ankle ligament, how long each grade of sprain takes to heal, what to do at home and when you need an X-ray.
Clinically reviewed by Kim Eneberg, PT ·
The short answer
A torn ankle ligament is an ankle sprain. It’s graded 1 to 3 by how much of the ligament is torn, and most heal without surgery. Typical recovery is 1 to 3 weeks for a mild sprain, 3 to 6 weeks for a partial tear, and 3 months or more for a complete tear. For the first 2 to 3 days, rest, ice, compress and raise the ankle. Then walk as pain allows in a brace and start gentle exercises early.
See a doctor the same day if you can’t take 4 steps, or the bony bumps of your ankle hurt to press, because the ankle may be broken.
Want it checked? Find an Evolve Health podiatrist near you
This guide is for general information and is not a diagnosis. Some services may not be offered at every office; your provider will go over your treatment options at your appointment.
What is a torn ankle ligament?
Ligaments are tough, slightly stretchy bands that hold bones together at a joint. When your ankle twists further than it should, usually rolling so the sole of your foot turns inward, the ligaments on the outside of the ankle can stretch or tear. That’s an ankle sprain. “Torn ligament” and “sprain” describe the same injury, and the grade tells you how badly the ligament is torn.
The ankle has three main groups of ligaments:
- Outer (lateral) ligaments. These are hurt in most sprains. The anterior talofibular ligament, just in front of the outer ankle bone, tears most often, followed by the calcaneofibular ligament just below it.
- Inner (deltoid) ligament. This fan-shaped ligament on the inside of the ankle is strong and tears less often, usually when the foot twists outward. It’s often injured along with a fracture.
- High ankle (syndesmosis) ligaments. These hold the two lower leg bones together just above the ankle. A high ankle sprain happens when the foot is forced to turn outward, for example in football, soccer or skiing. It takes longer to heal.
Torn ankle ligament symptoms
- pain, most often on the outside of the ankle
- swelling, which can start within minutes or over a few hours
- bruising, which may spread down into the foot and toes over the next few days
- tenderness when you press just in front of or below the outer ankle bone
- pain when you walk, or trouble putting weight on the foot
- a pop or tearing feeling at the moment of injury
- an ankle that feels loose or gives way
A pop doesn’t always mean a complete tear, and a complete tear doesn’t always hurt more than a partial one at first. Early swelling can make the ankle hard to judge, so doctors sometimes check it again after 4 or 5 days, once the swelling has gone down.
Is it a torn ligament or a broken ankle?
A sprain and a fracture can look alike. Get an X-ray, the same day if you can, if:
- you can’t take 4 steps on it, even with a limp
- it hurts to press on the back edge or tip of either ankle bone (the bony bumps on each side of your ankle)
- it hurts to press on the bump about halfway along the outer edge of your foot, or on the bony bump on the inner side of your midfoot
These checks come from the Ottawa ankle rules, which doctors use to decide who needs an X-ray. If none of them apply, a fracture is unlikely, but see a doctor if you’re worried. Our guides to broken ankle vs sprained ankle and foot fracture vs sprain explain the differences in more detail.
How long does a torn ankle ligament take to heal?
Recovery time depends mostly on the grade of the sprain. These are typical ranges, not promises. Your age and health, which ligament is torn and how well you keep up your rehab all make a difference.
| Grade | What’s happened to the ligament | Common signs | Typical recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 (mild) | Stretched, with tiny tears | Mild swelling and tenderness. You can walk, perhaps with a slight limp. The ankle feels stable. | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Grade 2 (moderate) | Partly torn | More swelling and bruising. Walking hurts. The ankle may feel a little loose. | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Grade 3 (severe) | Completely torn | Major swelling and bruising. Hard or impossible to put weight on. The ankle feels unstable. | Often 3 to 6 months before full sport; everyday walking returns sooner |
| High ankle sprain | Ligaments between the two lower leg bones | Pain above the ankle, worse when the foot turns outward or when you push off | Often 6 to 8 weeks or longer |
A ligament keeps getting stronger for months after the pain has gone. That’s why the chance of spraining the same ankle again stays higher for a while, and why finishing your rehab matters.
How to treat a torn ankle ligament
The first 2 to 3 days
- Protect and rest it. Avoid anything that hurts. Use crutches if you can’t walk without a heavy limp.
- Ice it for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours while you’re awake, with a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
- Compress it with an elastic bandage, wrapped from the toes up toward the calf. It should be snug, not tight. Loosen it if your toes tingle, go numb or change color, and take it off at night.
- Raise it above the level of your heart as often as you can.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), if it’s safe for you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first if you have kidney, stomach or heart problems, or take a blood thinner.
For the first 2 to 3 days, also avoid heat (hot baths, heat packs), alcohol, running and massage. They can all increase swelling.
If you have diabetes, neuropathy or poor circulation, don’t ice or tightly wrap your ankle before a doctor has seen it. You may not feel if the cold or the bandage is harming your skin.
Walking and support
For most sprains, getting moving early, with support, leads to a faster recovery than keeping the ankle still in a cast. How much support you need depends on the grade:
- Grade 1: an elastic bandage, compression sleeve or light brace for comfort. Walk as pain allows.
- Grade 2: a lace-up or stirrup brace for the first few weeks, with crutches for a few days if you need them.
- Grade 3: often a walking boot or rigid brace for the first week or two, then a lace-up brace. Your doctor will guide you.
Our guide to ankle braces after a sprain explains which type to choose.
Rehab exercises
Start gentle exercises as soon as the pain allows, usually within a few days. Stop any exercise that causes sharp pain.
- Movement (from the first few days). Trace the letters of the alphabet in the air with your big toe, and pump your foot up and down. This stops the ankle stiffening.
- Strength (once you can walk comfortably). Push your foot against a resistance band in four directions: up, down, in and out. Add calf raises, first on both feet, then on the injured foot alone.
- Balance (once you can stand on the injured leg). Stand on the injured leg for 30 seconds at a time. Make it harder by closing your eyes or standing on a folded towel or cushion. Balance training has good evidence for lowering the risk of spraining the ankle again.
- Sport drills (once walking and single-leg calf raises are pain-free). Jog in straight lines, then add hopping, figure-eights and side-to-side moves before going back to full sport.
A physical therapist can build a program for your sport and tell you when you’re ready to go back. Learn about sports and orthopedic injury rehab, or read our guide to foot and ankle physical therapy.
Can a torn ankle ligament heal on its own?
Yes, in most cases. Most torn ankle ligaments, including many complete tears, heal without surgery when they’re protected at first and then moved and strengthened.
“On its own” doesn’t mean doing nothing, though. A ligament that heals without rehab often leaves the ankle weak and wobbly. Some people end up with chronic ankle instability, an ankle that keeps rolling or giving way months or years later.
Can you walk on a torn ankle ligament?
Often, yes. With a grade 1 or 2 sprain, most people can walk, and walking as pain allows in a brace helps recovery. With a grade 3 tear, walking may be very painful or feel unstable at first, and you may need crutches and a boot for a short time.
If you can’t take 4 steps, have it X-rayed before you try to walk on it.
When does a torn ankle ligament need surgery?
Surgery is rarely needed. A foot and ankle surgeon may suggest it if:
- the ankle keeps giving way after about 3 to 6 months of good rehab
- the sprain came with a fracture, a torn tendon or damage to the joint cartilage
- a high ankle sprain has separated the two lower leg bones
The most common operation repairs and tightens the torn outer ligaments. Recovery takes several months, with time in a boot followed by physical therapy. Learn about reconstructive foot and ankle surgery.
When to see a doctor for a sprained ankle
Go to the emergency room if:
- the ankle or foot looks deformed, or bone is showing through the skin
- your foot turns cold, pale or blue, or goes numb
Get seen the same day if:
- you can’t take 4 steps
- it hurts to press on the bony bumps of the ankle, the outer edge of the foot or the inner side of the midfoot
- the swelling is severe or getting worse fast
- you have diabetes, neuropathy or poor circulation
Book a visit if:
- the pain and swelling aren’t clearly better after a week
- the ankle still feels loose or gives way once the pain has settled
- you’ve sprained the same ankle before, or it keeps happening
- you still have pain or swelling 6 weeks after the injury
How a podiatrist diagnoses and treats a torn ankle ligament
A podiatrist will ask how you hurt your ankle, find where it’s tender and gently test how stable it is. In the anterior drawer test, for example, the doctor gently draws your foot forward to see whether the outer ligaments are loose. Evolve Health podiatrists have digital X-ray on site to check for a fracture. An ultrasound or MRI may be ordered for a severe sprain, a high ankle sprain or an ankle that isn’t healing as expected.
Treatment may include a brace or walking boot, crutches, physical therapy and, for a small number of people, surgery. Learn more about how we treat sprains and fractures, or read what to expect at a podiatrist appointment after a foot injury.
How to avoid spraining it again
A previous sprain is the biggest risk factor for another one. To lower your risk:
- Finish your rehab, especially the balance exercises, even after the pain has gone.
- Wear a brace or tape for sport for several months after a moderate or severe sprain.
- Warm up before sport, and build your training back up gradually.
- Wear supportive shoes made for your sport, and replace them when they wear out.
- Take extra care on uneven ground until the ankle feels strong again.
If your ankle isn’t improving, keeps giving way, or you’re not sure whether it’s broken, you can find a podiatrist near you and book online.
Questions, answered
It depends on the grade. A mild sprain (grade 1) usually heals in 1 to 3 weeks, a partial tear (grade 2) in 3 to 6 weeks, and a complete tear (grade 3) often takes 3 to 6 months before full return to sport. High ankle sprains take longer than regular sprains. These are typical ranges, and doing your rehab exercises makes a big difference.
Common signs are pain on the outside of the ankle after rolling it, swelling, bruising, pain when you walk, and sometimes a pop at the moment of injury or a feeling that the ankle is loose. A doctor can tell how badly the ligament is torn by examining it, sometimes a few days later once the swelling has gone down. An X-ray checks for a fracture.
Most can, including many complete tears, without surgery. But healing well needs a short period of protection followed by exercises for movement, strength and balance. Without that rehab, the ankle can stay weak and keep giving way.
Often, yes. With a mild or moderate sprain, walking as pain allows in a supportive brace helps recovery. A complete tear may need crutches and a walking boot for a short time. If you can’t take 4 steps, get an X-ray first to rule out a fracture.
They are the same injury. A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, and the grade describes how much is torn: grade 1 is stretched with tiny tears, grade 2 is a partial tear and grade 3 is a complete tear.
You need an X-ray if you can’t take 4 steps, or if the bony bumps of your ankle, the outer edge of your foot or the inner side of your midfoot hurt to press, because these point to a possible fracture. Most sprains don’t need an MRI or ultrasound. They are used when a sprain is severe, a high ankle sprain is suspected, or the ankle isn’t healing as expected.
For most partial tears, a lace-up or stirrup brace gives the best mix of support and comfort and lets you walk. A soft sleeve or elastic bandage is enough for a mild sprain. A complete tear may need a walking boot or rigid brace for the first week or two, followed by a lace-up brace.
Rarely. Surgery is considered when the ankle keeps giving way after about 3 to 6 months of good rehab, or when the sprain comes with a fracture, a torn tendon, cartilage damage or a high ankle sprain that has separated the leg bones. The usual operation repairs and tightens the outer ankle ligaments.
A high ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments that hold the two lower leg bones together just above the ankle. It usually happens when the foot is forced to turn outward, and it hurts above the ankle rather than on the outer side. It typically takes longer to heal than a regular sprain and should be checked by a doctor.
This guide is for general education and doesn’t replace advice from your own doctor. Everyone’s situation is different, so talk to a healthcare provider about symptoms that are new, getting worse or worrying you. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911. Reading this guide doesn’t make you a patient of Evolve Health.
Want a specialist to take a look?
A guide can explain, but it can’t examine you. Evolve Health providers see patients across Florida and Texas, and you can book online any time.
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