India's javelin ace Neeraj Chopra on Saturday confirmed that he would not be able to take part in the upcoming Diamond League final in Brussels and the Asian Games after suffering an injury.
The two-time Olympic medallist on Instagram confirmed that he suffered a ligament tear in his ankle during a training session and would therefore miss upcoming games.
He also added that he decided after consulting his doctor and the rest of the team.
What is a ligament tear?
A ligament tear occurs when the tough, fibrous tissue connecting bones is overstretched, partially torn, or completely ruptured.
There are over 900 ligaments in your body. The common injury that one calls a sprain happens when you overstretch or tear a ligament.
Sports-related ligament tears can be serious. The severity depends entirely on the degree of the tear and which joint is affected:
Grade 1 (Mild): The ligament is stretched, but no significant tearing happens. Typical recovery is 2-4 weeks.
Grade 2 (Moderate): A partial tear occurs where some fibres break, causing joint looseness. Recovery is estimated at 6-12 weeks.
Grade 3 (Severe): A complete tear or rupture breaks the ligament apart, causing major joint instability. It takes up to 6-12 months for recovery.
Watch out for the warning signs
Seek immediate medical evaluation if you notice any of these key warning signs:
*A popping sound or sensation at the exact moment of injury.
*Rapid swelling and severe bruising within the first 1 to 2 hours.
*Inability to bear weight or feeling like the joint will "give out" or collapse.
*Visible deformity or restricted range of motion.
Common high-risk sports tears include the knee (ACL / MCL), ankle (ATFL) and shoulder. In the case of an ankle ligament tear, incomplete rehab could lead to ankle instability.
Treating ligament tear
Treating a ligament tear requires a phased approach: immediate acute care to control swelling, medical evaluation to determine the grade, and structured rehabilitation to restore stability.
Once initial pain and acute swelling subside, structured physical therapy begins to rebuild joint function:
*Range-of-Motion (ROM): Gentle non-weight-bearing movements (such as writing the alphabet with your toes or ankle pumps) prevent joint stiffness.
*Strengthening: Progressive resistance exercises using elastic resistance bands targeting muscles surrounding the joint to compensate for ligament instability.
Proprioception & Balance: Single-leg balance work and wobble board exercises retrain neuromuscular control to prevent re-injury.
*Surgical Consultation (Grade 3 Tears): Severe ruptures in active individuals (such as complete ACL tears) may require surgical reconstruction followed by 6–9 months of rehab.
