What Is a High Ankle Sprain and How Long Does It Take to Heal?
When an NFL player goes down with an ankle injury, you’ll often hear the term “high ankle sprain.” New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown recently brought attention to this injury after suffering a high ankle sprain during the season opener.
But high ankle sprains don’t just happen to professional athletes. They can occur during recreational sports, exercise, a fall, or even an awkward twist of the ankle.
So, what makes a high ankle sprain different from a typical ankle sprain—and why can recovery take longer?
What Is a High Ankle Sprain?
A high ankle sprain involves the syndesmotic ligaments, which connect the tibia and fibula—the two bones of the lower leg—just above the ankle joint.
These ligaments help keep the lower leg bones stable when you stand, walk, run, pivot, and push off the foot.
A typical ankle sprain usually involves ligaments along the outside of the ankle. Because a high ankle sprain affects a different group of ligaments that play an important role in weight-bearing and ankle stability, it can sometimes require a longer recovery.
What Causes a High Ankle Sprain?
High ankle sprains often occur when the foot is planted and the leg or ankle twists outward. They are commonly associated with sports such as football, soccer, basketball, and skiing, but you don’t have to be an athlete to sustain one.
A fall, misstep, or awkward twisting injury can also damage these ligaments.
What Are the Symptoms of a High Ankle Sprain?
Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the injury. You may notice:
- Pain that extends above the ankle
- Pain when putting weight on the injured foot
- Pain when pushing off the foot or rotating the ankle
- Swelling or bruising
- Difficulty walking or a noticeable limp
- Tenderness between the tibia and fibula above the ankle
Bruising is almost always a sign that you should have the injury evaluated by a doctor.
Unlike some traditional ankle sprains, a high ankle sprain may not always produce dramatic swelling. The location and type of pain can provide important clues about which structures have been injured.
How Long Does a High Ankle Sprain Take to Heal?
There isn’t one recovery timeline for every high ankle sprain. Healing depends on the severity of the ligament injury, whether the ankle is stable, and the patient’s activity level and overall health.
Milder injuries may improve over several weeks, while more significant high ankle sprains can require a longer period of restricted activity and rehabilitation. Severe injuries involving instability between the tibia and fibula may occasionally require surgery.
Returning to activity too soon can delay healing or increase the risk of reinjury.
How Is a High Ankle Sprain Diagnosed?
A foot and ankle specialist will examine the ankle, determine where the pain is located, and evaluate its stability.
X-rays may be recommended to rule out a fracture or look for abnormal separation between the lower leg bones. In some cases, additional imaging such as an MRI may be used to evaluate the ligaments and determine the extent of the injury.
Getting the correct diagnosis matters because treatment for a high ankle sprain can differ from treatment for a more common lateral ankle sprain.
When Should You See a Doctor for an Ankle Injury?
Not every sore ankle requires an immediate office visit, but certain symptoms deserve attention.
You should consider having an ankle injury evaluated if you have significant bruising, difficulty bearing weight, pain above the ankle, a noticeable limp, significant swelling, or pain that is not improving within 48–72 hours.
And remember: just because you can walk on an injured ankle doesn’t necessarily mean the injury is minor.
Don’t Just “Walk It Off”
Professional athletes have medical teams watching every injury. The rest of us sometimes have a tendency to wait and hope an ankle problem disappears on its own.
If an ankle injury is keeping you from walking normally or getting back to the activities you enjoy, finding out exactly what was injured is the first step toward proper recovery.
At Sol Foot & Ankle Centers, we evaluate and treat ankle sprains, sports injuries, fractures, and other foot and ankle conditions at our two Long Beach locations.
If ankle pain is slowing you down, contact us to schedule an evaluation.