human
I'm a little confused by the difference between a sprained ankle and a broken ankle. Can you explain?
assistant
A sprained ankle is an injury to the ligaments that connect the bones of the ankle, while a broken ankle is damage to the bone itself. Sprained ankles are usually caused by excessive twisting or stretching of the ligaments in the joint, while broken ankles can be caused by more serious trauma such as falling from a height or being hit by a car. Both injuries cause pain and swelling, but sprains typically heal faster than breaks.