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Medial Sprain: A Pain in the Ankle

Tom Willemann |

Ankle sprains are one of the most common orthopedic injuries. In fact, more than 20,000 ankle sprains occur each day in the United States. Medial ankle sprains occur when the ligament located on the inner, or medial, side of the ankle is severely stretched or torn. Such injuries account for a small portion of sprains, maybe 5%, and affect men about three times more frequently than women. 

Why do men experience more medial ankle sprains than women?

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The simplest answer is that the majority of medial ankle injuries occur as a result of physical sports such as football, basketball and soccer that involve a lot of jarring landings. The medial ankle sprain differs from other ankle sprains because it happens when the heel is facing outside, away from the other foot, unlike most ankle sprains. This strains or tears the deltoid ligament, located on the inside (or medial side) of the ankle. The injury usually happens when a player falls or lands incorrectly from a jump.

If the sprain occurs in conjunction with an ankle fracture, it does not need to be surgically repaired. If the sprain is severe and there is no fracture, you will be advised to:

  • avoid putting weight on the ankle for some timewear a boot or a castkeep the weight off the injured ligament
  • wear a boot or a cast
  • keep the weight off the injured ligament

Such protective measures should allow the ankle to heal on its own. You may have to wear the boot for five or six weeks, and you will only be allowed to put weight on the ankle as symptoms allow, but again, surgery probably would not be required.


A well-designed physical therapy program gradually strengthens the joint while addressing your medical requirements. Working with an highly trained orthopedic physical therapist from Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation at our location in Paramus, you will be back on your feet and participating in sports activities sooner rather than later.


Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Paramus, Ridgewood, and Bergen County region.  This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your physician before engaging in a physical therapy or rehabilitative regimen.

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
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