Why Can't I Put Weight On My Ankle After Twisting It In Basketball?

You can't put weight on your ankle after twisting it in basketball because the sudden injury has likely damaged the ankle ligaments or another structure that normally supports every step.

You may have heard or felt a pop as your foot rolled underneath you, then realized you couldn't take another step. Even if the pain eased while sitting, it may return immediately when you try to stand, making your ankle feel like it simply won't support you.

Severe pain with weight bearing is common after a significant ankle sprain because the injured ligaments are no longer stabilizing the joint normally. Rapid swelling and muscle guarding around the ankle can make every attempt to walk feel sharp, weak, or unstable.

Every Time You Try To Stand, The Ankle Gives You Sharp Pain

The first attempt to put weight on the foot is often the most painful moment.

You may find yourself hopping on the other foot because the injured ankle immediately protests when it touches the ground. Swelling and ligament damage make even normal walking feel difficult until the injury begins to settle.

The Ankle Feels Too Weak Or Unstable To Trust

You may feel like the ankle could buckle underneath you.

Even if the pain is manageable while resting, standing can create a strong feeling that the joint is no longer dependable. This often happens because the ligaments that normally keep the ankle steady were overstretched or torn during the twist.

Why Your Ankle Could Be Taking Longer To Heal

Your ankle has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and a cycle of reinjury.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your ankle feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Ankle Feel Better

Your ankle starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these same Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Should I see a healthcare professional if I can't put weight on my ankle after twisting it?

Yes. Inability to bear weight after an ankle injury should be evaluated promptly to rule out a severe sprain or fracture.

Can a bad ankle sprain make it impossible to walk?

Yes. Moderate and severe sprains can make walking extremely painful because the ankle loses stability and swells rapidly.

Does not being able to bear weight always mean my ankle is broken?

No. A severe ligament injury can also prevent weight bearing, but a fracture should always be considered and medically assessed.

Should I keep trying to walk on the injured ankle?

No. Avoid forcing weight onto the ankle until it has been properly evaluated, especially if every step causes severe pain.

How long does it take before I can walk normally again?

Recovery depends on the severity of the injury. Mild sprains improve more quickly, while severe sprains or fractures can require several weeks or longer.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.