What are the symptoms of a sprained ankle?

Symptoms of a sprained ankle may include pain, swelling, tenderness and bruising at the injury site, according to WebMD. Individuals with severely sprained ankles also may have difficulty walking or maintaining balance. Sprains also can cause tearing or popping sensations at the moment of impact.

Sprained ankles often occur when individuals fall down and land on their ankles in an awkward fashion, according to Mayo Clinic. Exercising or walking on unbalanced surfaces also can lead to ankle sprains. Complications such as chronic ankle pain, chronic ankle joint problems and arthritis of the ankle joint can occur when sprains are not treated properly.