Two weeks ago, injury seemed poised to snap NFL wide receiver Cris Carter's record of 110 consecutive starts. It wasn't a concussion, broken leg, separated shoulder or even the dreaded turf toe that threatened to shut down the all-pro Minnesota Viking star. While most people think of an ankle sprain as a minor injury, it can be a major athletic concern. The ankle supports and positions every movement an athlete makes. If a sprain is not properly treated, you can see it contribute quickly to other injuries as the legs, knees and hips attempt to compensate for the loss of movement.
Sprained ankles can definitely be serious.
The vast majority of sprained ankles are known medically as lateral inversion sprains. The three major outer ligaments which help hold the bones of the ankle joint in place are stretched or torn when the foot rolls unnaturally to the outside. Swelling - The body attempts to prevent further trauma by immobilizing the area through swelling. The degree of swelling often serves as the first indication of sprain severity. It almost never bothers you, although the ligaments are mildly stretched.