Broken or Sprained Ankle: How to Know the Difference? A broken or sprained ankle can happen instantaneously. You may step into a hole, twist your foot while running, miss a stair, or land badly after a jump. This is followed by pain, swelling, and that question: “Did I break my ankle, or is it just a sprain?” The problem is that a broken or sprained ankle can look very similar at fi... https://zerunio.com/articles/broken-or-sprained-ankle-how-to-know-the-difference