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An injury to the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is the most common type of lateral ankle sprain. The ATFL connects the talus (ankle bone) to the fibula. Anterior talofibular ligament sprain symptoms include pain or soreness, swelling, difficulty walking, bruising, and stiffness in the joint.
The anterior talofibular ligament is injured first, followed by injury to the calcaneofibular ligament and posterior talofibular ligament. Since the anterior talofibular ligament is the weakest ligament in the lateral ankle complex, it is most commonly injured as a result of plantarflexion and inversion injuries.