A sprained foot occurs when the ligaments that connect the bones are stretched or torn, usually as a result of sudden twisting or rolling of the foot. A broken foot, on the other hand, involves a fracture in one or more of the bones in the foot.

Injuries to the foot may cause a sprain rather than a break. A sprain is when the tissue between the bones, known as ligaments, tear, or stretch. Sprains can result in similar symptoms to breaks, and it may be difficult for a person to tell the two conditions apart. In general, a broken foot will result in more intense and continuous pain.

In general, a broken foot tends to be more painful than a sprained foot, and the pain lasts longer. Bruising, swelling, and tenderness are also more severe if your foot is broken. Another way to tell the difference between a broken foot and sprained foot is the sound the body makes when the injury occurs.

If your ankle hurts or is tender to the touch directly over your ankle bone, you probably have a fracture. If the pain is in the soft part of your ankle, it’s more likely a sprain. If you’re still not sure, see your doctor. They can examine your ankle and give you a number of tests to figure out which injury you have.

You can also try to determine if the foot is sprained or broken. Sprains occur when you stretch or tear a ligament, which is the tissue that connects 2 bones together. Breaks are a fracture or complete break of the bone. If you see any bones sticking out through the skin, you have an open fracture. Seek emergency medical care immediately.