THE RED DOOR CLINIC · MELLIEĦA
Ankle sprains
A twist or a roll. Most settle well when the ankle is loaded again in the right order.
An ankle sprain is a ligament injury, usually from rolling the foot inward on an uneven surface, a court, or a curb. At The Red Door Clinic in Mellieħa, physiotherapy aims to settle the pain and restore balance and strength so the ankle does not keep giving way. A sprain that will not take weight, or an ankle that looks out of shape, needs urgent medical care before rehab.
Reviewed by Andrew George, Lead Physiotherapist · 5 October 2026
What a sprain is
Ligaments on the outer ankle are the ones most often overstretched. Swelling and bruising can look dramatic and still be a straightforward sprain. They can also hide a fracture. If you cannot take four steps, get it checked medically before a clinic plan.
Recurring sprains are often a balance and strength problem left over from the first one, not bad luck.
What usually helps
Early on: protect it from another roll, move it within comfort, and keep the rest of the leg working. Later: balance, calf strength, and a return to the surface you injured it on.
We do not promise a date you will be back to sport. The plan is progressed from what the ankle tolerates.
When to seek urgent care instead
Most muscle and joint pain is not an emergency. Go to accident and emergency, or call emergency services, if you have a suspected broken bone, a joint that looks deformed, pain after a significant fall, chest pain, trouble breathing, a head injury with confusion or vomiting, numbness in the saddle area, or loss of bladder or bowel control. A limb that is cold, pale or blue, or sudden severe swelling, also needs urgent medical care rather than a clinic appointment.
Pain in the shoulder or arm that arrives with chest pressure, breathlessness, sweating, nausea or feeling faint can be a heart symptom. Call emergency services. Do not wait for physiotherapy.
If you are unsure, use emergency services first. For everything else, contact the clinic and describe what happened. We do not diagnose by message.
How the clinic can help
A consultation and assessment with Andrew George, our lead physiotherapist, is €55, and follow-up physiotherapy is €45. The assessment looks at the movement that hurts and the story around it. You leave with a plain-language explanation and a plan that fits the week you actually have.
Where massage helps alongside physiotherapy, the clinic houses qualified massage therapists in the same building. Massage does not replace an assessment when pain, injury or a change in movement is the concern.
Book through the contact form, by phone on 2152 4199, or by WhatsApp on 7924 1880. Describe your symptoms and the team will help you choose the right first appointment.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP
Not sure where to start? Start with us.
Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Related conditions and next steps
A LITTLE CLARITY
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a scan for a sprain?
Most sprains do not. Inability to take weight, bony tenderness, or a deformity are reasons to be assessed medically first. We will tell you if that applies.
Why does it still feel weak months later?
Ligaments heal slowly, and the ankle’s balance reactions switch off after a sprain. Strength and balance work is what brings that confidence back.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP
Your next chapter starts with a conversation.
Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.