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Published on: 4/24/2025

Are there quizzes available to help determine if an ankle is broken or sprained?

Kenji Taylor

Reviewed by Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc

Family Medicine

There are no specific quizzes to tell if an ankle is broken or sprained, but understanding symptoms can help you figure it out.

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Explanation

When you hurt your ankle, it can be hard to know if it is broken or just sprained. A sprain happens when the ligaments, which are like rubber bands holding your bones together, get stretched or torn. A broken ankle means one or more bones in your ankle are cracked or broken.

Signs to Look For:

  • Pain: Both sprains and breaks can hurt a lot.
  • Swelling and Bruising: These can happen with both injuries.
  • Movement: If you can’t move your ankle or put weight on it, it might be broken.

What to Do:

  • Rest: Keep your foot up and don’t walk on it.
  • Ice: Put ice on your ankle to help with swelling.
  • See a Doctor: They can do tests like X-rays to see if it’s broken.

It’s important to see a doctor if your ankle is very swollen, you can’t walk, or the pain is really bad. They can help figure out what’s wrong and how to make it better. For more information, you can read the article by How CH and Tan KJ in the Singapore Medical Journal.

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