DORA: OWWWWWWWWW! I hurt my ankle!
WENDELL: Looks like you've got a sprain, Dora.
DORA: Yep, that's what my mother said. But what is a sprain, Wendell?
WENDELL: A torn ligament, Dora!

DORA: Would you please stop? What's a torn ligament, Wendell?
WENDELL: Well, you've got bones throughout your body, right? Something has to connect them to each other, right? Ligaments are strands of tissue, like tough nylon rope, whose purpose is to connect bones to other bones.
DORA: And a ligament can tear?
WENDELL: Sometimes you put too much pressure on a ligament and they get pulled or stretched too far. When that happens, ligaments can tear. It can happen as you kick a soccer ball in a particular way, or if you trip walking across a pot-holed street. Such tears can be very little or very large.

DORA: Is my sprained ankle ever going to heal?
WENDELL: Sure. Don't worry. Just like muscles, and even most bones, your ankle will heal. Your ankle is just a little painful now, I'm sure. And a little bruised and swollen. That's because a very small amount of blood from some tiny broken blood vessels leaked into the tissue around your ankle. But don't worry, that, too, will go away.

DORA: So what should you do when you have an ankle that hurts.
WENDELL: Have an adult help determine whether you need to see a doctor. If an adult thinks it's not a severe strain you can treat it from home. But with a doctor or without, what you need is a little R.I.C.E!
DORA: RICE? What's RICE got to do with a sprained ankle?
WENDELL: Not RICE, Dora. But REST, ICE, COMPRESS, and ELEVATION!
DORA: Come again?
WENDELL: In other words, relax, use some ice as a compress, put your feet up. You may want to use a bandage. Wrap it starting at your toes, up your foot and then around your ankle. That way, you'll keep your ankle from moving unnecessarily. If you're in pain, a doctor may suggest some pain reliever and crutches.