Sprained Ankle

Simply put, a sprain is a stress injury that involves the tearing or overstretching of a muscle. The bone-connecting ligaments in the affected joint get injured when the joint gets twisted, usually past its standard range of motion. The ligament damage can be in the form of stretching, partial tearing, or complete tearing. In severe cases, bleeding can occur internally, which is what gives some sprains the characteristic black and blue coloration. Sprains typically occur due to overuse, joint stress, an imbalance in the opposing muscles, or accidents.