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Published on: 7/15/2026

What are the signs that indicate whether you have sprained your ankle or broken it?

Yoshinori Abe

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

A sprained ankle typically causes pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. A broken ankle, however, often results in severe pain, significant swelling, visible deformity, and an inability to bear weight on the affected foot.

Key differences between a sprained and broken ankle:

  • Sprain: Mild to moderate pain, gradual swelling, bruising, and limited but possible weight-bearing.
  • Fracture: Intense pain, immediate swelling, possible deformity, and inability to stand or walk.

Because symptoms can overlap, it's often difficult to tell the difference without a professional evaluation. Ignoring a fracture can lead to long-term complications, while treating a sprain incorrectly can delay healing. The fastest way to clarify your next steps—whether that's rest, imaging, or urgent care—is to take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand your condition and get personalized guidance.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

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Important Next Steps

See if your ankle is brokenLearn likely causes of ankle painFind out if sprain needs careExplore OTC pain relief optionsFind an ankle injury specialistDiscover medically valid home remediesUnderstand if ankle symptoms need care

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Explanation

When trying to figure out if an ankle is sprained or broken, it's important to look at how it feels and looks. A sprained ankle usually comes with pain and swelling, but you might still be able to walk a little.

Signs of a Sprain:

  • Pain and swelling
  • Bruising
  • Limited movement
  • Some ability to walk, though it may hurt

Signs of a Break:

  • Severe pain
  • Significant swelling
  • Bruising
  • Unable to put weight on the foot

Ankle injuries can also involve other complications like nerve injuries or be associated with injuries to other parts of the leg, such as the tibia. If you're experiencing ankle pain and aren't sure about the severity of your injury, you can start by taking a free symptom checker test to better understand your symptoms. However, if the pain is very bad or you can't walk at all, it's important to see a doctor to find out if it's broken. They might need to do special tests, like an X-ray, to be sure.

(References)

  • Brief JM, Brief R, Ergas E, Brief LP, & Brief AA. (2009). Peroneal nerve injury with foot drop complicating ankle .... Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases, 20001941.

  • Boddenberg U. (2004). [Healing time of foot and ankle fractures in patients with .... Zentralblatt fur Chirurgie, 15616908.

  • Jung KJ, Chung CY, Park MS, Chung MK, Lee DY, Koo S, & Lee KM. (2015). Concomitant Ankle Injuries Associated With Tibial Shaft .... Foot & ankle international, 26041543.

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