What is a ligament injury?

A ligament injury occurs when one of the strong bands of tissue that connects one bone to another is overstretched or torn. Ligaments help keep joints stable and guide normal movement. These injuries are common in the knee, ankle, shoulder, and other joints and can occur during sports, sudden twisting, falls, awkward landings, or direct impact.

Ligament injuries are often described by severity. A mild sprain may involve stretching of the ligament, while a more serious injury may involve a partial or complete tear. Symptoms can include pain, swelling, bruising, reduced movement, and a feeling that the joint is unstable or giving way. In some injuries, the patient may hear or feel a pop at the time of injury.

Treatment depends on the ligament involved and the degree of damage. Mild injuries may recover with protection, physiotherapy, and gradual strengthening. Severe tears, especially when they cause ongoing instability or occur with other injuries, may require specialist assessment and sometimes surgery.

Ligament injuries are different from muscle strains because ligaments stabilise the joint rather than producing movement. A damaged ligament can sometimes leave a joint feeling normal during simple walking but unstable during turning, jumping, or sport. Early assessment is useful when the joint repeatedly gives way, because recurrent instability can place additional stress on cartilage, meniscus, and other structures.