You awkwardly stumble over a curb in the sidewalk. Your immediate concern is your ankle, but then you notice that a sharp pain shoots through your foot. Is it possible to sprain your foot?

In short, foot sprains are real. While they can be painful and disruptive, they are less common than ankle sprains. In this guide, we will discuss what a foot sprain is and how to recover from one.

What is a Sprain?

The bones in your body are connected at the joints by bands of connective tissue known as ligaments. When these ligaments become damaged, usually by being stretched or torn, you experience a sprain. Sprains are often caused by sports activities, but they can also result from repetitive strain or a fall.

Your risk of a sprain increases if you’re an athlete, engage in repetitive motions, or suddenly increase your physical activity. Sprains can occur at any joint, but the wrist, ankle, knees, and fingers are most common.

Can You Really Sprain Your Foot?

There are a total of 33 joints and over 100 ligaments located in the human foot, and any one of them can be sprained. The midfoot sprain is the most common type, and can be caused by landing on your foot unevenly.

Symptoms of a Foot Sprain

Whether there is a specific event, such as a sports fall, or a case of overuse, such as suddenly increasing your exercise, common symptoms of a foot sprain include:

• Pain and tenderness in the foot
• Swelling and bruising