Netball Ankle Sprains: Why They Keep Coming Back This Winter Season

Netball is one of Sydney's biggest winter sports, and if you've spent any time on court over the past few weekends, chances are you've already seen — or felt — an ankle roll. Ankle sprains are consistently reported as one of the most common injuries in netball, largely due to the sport's demands: rapid deceleration, one-footed landing after a jump, sharp pivoting, and frequent contact around the ball. For a lot of players, a rolled ankle becomes an almost expected part of the season. It doesn't have to be that way, and how it's managed in the first few weeks can make a real difference to the rest of your season.

Why Netball Puts So Much Load Through the Ankle

Netball's rules mean players are constantly landing on one leg, changing direction sharply, and contesting for position in tight spaces, often with a defender close by. Add wet or slippery indoor and outdoor courts through winter, and the ankle joint is placed under repeated, unpredictable load. Most netball ankle sprains involve the ligaments on the outside of the ankle (lateral ligament sprains), and severity can range from mild ligament stretching (Grade I) through to a partial tear (Grade II) or, less commonly, a complete tear (Grade III). Recovery timeframes vary considerably between individuals and depend on the grade of injury, which is part of why an individual assessment matters more than a generic timeline.

The Problem With “Just Resting It”

A pattern we see fairly often at SportsFit is a player who rolls an ankle, takes a week or two off, feels “good enough,” and returns to court — only to roll the same ankle again a few weeks later. This cycle is frequently linked to what's known as chronic ankle instability, where the ligaments and surrounding structures haven't been adequately restored to their pre-injury strength and control before a return to sport. Rest can help settle pain and swelling, but on its own it generally isn't enough to rebuild the balance, strength, and joint awareness needed to cope with the demands of netball.

A Structured Approach to Ankle Sprain Rehabilitation

Physiotherapy management of ankle sprains generally follows a staged approach, with the appropriate stage and pace depending on the individual and the grade of the injury:

• Early management: protecting the joint, managing swelling, and gradually restoring pain-free movement

• Restoring range and strength: rebuilding calf, peroneal, and intrinsic foot strength that supports the ankle joint

• Balance and proprioception retraining: retraining the ankle's ability to sense and react to changes in surface and direction — often the most overlooked part of rehab, and a key factor in reducing the risk of re-injury

• Objective testing before return to sport: at SportsFit, we use tools like VALD ForceFrame and AXIT force plates to help assess strength symmetry and landing mechanics between the injured and uninjured side, supporting a more informed view of readiness than relying on how the ankle “feels”

• Sport-specific reconditioning: gradually reintroducing landing, pivoting, and change-of-direction drills that reflect what's required on court

When to Get an Ankle Sprain Assessed

Not every ankle sprain requires the same level of intervention, but there are situations where a physiotherapy assessment is particularly worthwhile:

• You're unable to weight bear on the ankle at all after the injury

• There's significant swelling or bruising within the first hour

• The ankle feels unstable or “gives way” during normal walking

• This isn't the first time you've rolled the same ankle

• Pain or swelling hasn't started to settle after a couple of weeks

A physiotherapist can help assess the extent of the injury, consider whether other structures may be involved — such as the syndesmosis or peroneal tendons — and guide an individualised rehabilitation program based on your sport, position, and goals. In some cases, particularly where a fracture is suspected, onward referral for imaging may be recommended.

Getting Back on Court

With appropriate rehabilitation, many netball players are able to work towards returning to the sport they play, though recovery varies from person to person and isn't guaranteed by any single approach. The key is making sure the ankle is genuinely ready for the demands of the game, not just pain-free in day-to-day movement.

If you've rolled your ankle this season, or you're playing on an ankle that hasn't felt quite right since an old sprain, our team at SportsFit Health & Rehab in Five Dock can assess it properly and put together a plan to help you manage it. Book a Netball injury assessment to get started.