Approximately 25,000 people sprain their ankle each day, ranking it the most common form of sprain in the United States.
A sprain is an injury to the ligaments around a joint. What are ligaments? Ligaments are strong, flexible fibers that hold bones together. When a ligament is stretched beyond its capacity or it tears, the joint will become painful and start to swell with inflammation. When a ligament is severely damaged, the ligament or joint capsule can lose stability.