Each of these sprains is similar in the symptoms they cause and the course of action they require. This injury involves the ligaments on the lateral, or outside, of the ankle. Conversely, the eversion sprain occurs when the outside of the foot is forced upward, causing injury to the medial, or inside, ankle ligaments. This injury presents more of a challenge for the athlete because of its slower healing, and both the athlete and coach must be patient enough to allow proper healing to occur. Ankle sprains are graded, according to their severity, as first, second, or third degree sprains.
Severity is measured according to the extent of ligament damage and joint instability.
The athlete experiences mild pain, disability, point tenderness, and swelling. By contrast, second-degree sprains involve the tearing of ligaments, and are thus more serious. The athlete experiences moderate pain and disability, and is often unable to bear weight. The most serious ligament injury, the third degree sprain involves the rupture of ligaments. The result is severe pain, disability, loss of function, and joint instability.