Ligament · Ankle

Anterior talofibular ligament

Ligamentum talofibulare anterius

The most commonly sprained ligament in the human body. It is a short, thin band on the outer ankle running forward from the tip of the fibula to the neck of the talus. It becomes taut when the foot points down and rolls inward — exactly the position the ankle lands in when you step off a kerb or come down on someone's foot — and it is the weakest of the lateral ankle ligaments, so it fails first. The lasting problem after an ATFL sprain is often not the ligament but the balance and position sense that go with it, which is why repeat sprains are common when only the swelling is treated.