Ligaments are a type of connective tissue that connects the bones to form a joint. Their primary function is to stabilize the joint and facilitate smooth joint movements. Even though ligaments are tough and sturdy, abrupt and external solid forces can easily damage them, causing stretching or tearing of the ligaments. You can put some weight on the ankle if there’s only ligament stretching but no tearing. The ligaments remain intact, so your ankle is still pretty stable. However, if one or more ligaments are stretched and tearing, putting weight on the ankle becomes excruciatingly painful. Not only will it prevent you from walking on your injured foot, but you may also even need to wear a plaster cast or a splint, depending on the severity of the injury. There are numerous ways you can injure your foot and ankle at work. You can slip on a wet floor and twist your foot when you fall. You can fall from a faulty ladder, land on your foot, and break it. You can step on sharp objects someone forgot to put away, or you didn’t see because the management failed to put up a warning sign. Even repetitive movements of the foot can cause bone and soft tissue injuries. Standing and walking for long hours at work puts some stress on your foot and ankle. These can aggravate and worsen pre-existing conditions like arthritis and peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes. If this is the case, you should immediately see a workers’ compensation expert.