Sprained your ankle while running or playing a sport? There’s a good chance that while playing as a child or stepping on an uneven surface as an adult you sprained your ankle–some 25,000 people do it every day.
Sometimes, it is an awkward moment when you lose your balance, but the ankle pain quickly fades away and you go on your way. But the sprain could be more severe; your ankle might swell and it might hurt too much to stand on it. If it’s a severe sprain, you might have felt a “pop” when the injury happened.
You should tell your doctor what you were doing when you sprained your ankle. He or she will examine it and determine the severity of the injury and make sure no bones are broken. Depending on how many ligaments are injured, you will be recommended a proper course of treatment. It can take several weeks or months for a sprained ankle to heal completely.
Ankle Sprain Overview I Symptoms I Risk Factors I Diagnosis I Treatment I Prevention
Read this article in Hindi / इस लेख को हिंदी में पढ़ें
What is an ankle sprain?
A sprained ankle means one or more ligaments on the outer side of your ankle were stretched or torn. If it is not treated properly, you could have long-term problems.
The most common ankle sprain occurs on the lateral or outside part of the ankle. This is an extremely common injury which affects many people during a wide variety of activities. It can happen in the setting of an ankle fracture (i.e. when the bones of the ankle also break). Most commonly, however, it occurs in isolation.
What are the symptoms of an ankle sprain?
Patients report pain after having twisted an ankle. This usually occurs due to an inversion injury, which means the foot rolls underneath the ankle or leg. It commonly occurs during sports.
You may have a sprained ankle if you notice the following symptoms in the ankle:
- swelling
- tenderness
- bruising
- pain
- inability to put weight on the affected ankle
- skin discoloration
- stiffness
What are the risk factors for an ankle sprain?
Some people are predisposed to ankle sprains.
- Heel posture: In people with a hindfoot varus, which means that the general nature or posture of the heels is slightly turned toward the inside, these injuries are more common. This is because it is easier to turn on the ankle.
- Past history : In those who have had a severe sprain in the past, it is also easier to turn the ankle and cause a new sprain. Therefore, one of the risk factors of spraining the ankle is having instability. Those who have weak muscles, especially those which run along the outside of the ankle, may be more predisposed.
How is an ankle sprain diagnosed?
Ankle sprains can be diagnosed fairly easily given that they are common injuries.
Your doctor will perform a physical exam to determine which ligaments have been torn. During the exam, your doctor may move your ankle joint in various ways to check your range of motion.
Imaging tests, such as X-rays, may also be ordered to rule out a bone fracture and understand if the ankle ligaments have been torn or sprained.
It is very important, however, not to simply regard any injury as an ankle sprain because other injuries can occur as well.
What are the treatments for ankle sprain?
A. Home treatment for Ankle Sprain
You may be able to treat mild sprains at home. The swelling usually goes down within a few days.
Recommended home care treatments for ankle sprain include:
- using elastic crepe bandages to wrap your ankle, but not too tightly
- wearing a brace to support your ankle
- using crutches, if needed
- elevating your foot with pillows as necessary to reduce swelling
- following RICE – Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation (Learn how to follow RICE protocol at home)
- getting plenty of rest and not putting weight on your ankle
B. Conservative Treatment of Ankle Sprain
The patient’s ability to bear weight on the foot determines the line of treatment. Few examples are:
- RICE should be followed in the first 48 to 72 hours (Read more about RICE protocol)
- Those patients who cannot bear weight are either temporarily immobilized, or better treated in a removable walking boot until they can comfortably bear weight.
- Physiotherapy is most important part of your recovery and should be started as soon as swelling goes down. It includes restoring your ankle’s flexibility, range of motion and strength. Patients should learn to strengthen the muscles around the ankle.
- An ankle brace can be used by an athlete until a therapist believes that the ankle is strong enough to return to play without it.
C. Surgery for Ankle Sprain
Surgery for sprained ankles is rare. It but may be needed in a patient who has cartilage damage or other related injuries or when the injury doesn’t improve with nonsurgical treatment. Surgical options include:
- Arthroscopy: During an arthroscopy, a surgeon looks inside the joint to see if there are any loose fragments of bone or cartilage.
- Reconstruction: For reconstruction surgery, a surgeon will repair the torn ligament with stitches. They may also use other ligaments or tendons around the foot or ankle to repair the damaged ligaments.
After surgery, rehabilitation is an important part of the recovery process. You’ll need to attend regular follow-up appointments with your doctor and complete physiotherapy exercises to regain motion and strengthen the muscle about the ankle.
How long is recovery of ankle sprain?
Recovery depends on the severity of the injury.
- Minor injuries: People can return to their activities in sports within several days.
- Very severe sprains: It may take longer and up to several weeks. It should be noted that high ankle sprains take considerably longer to heal.
- Surgery: Depending on the extent of your ankle sprain and the type of surgery, rehabilitation can take weeks or months.
Outcomes for ankle sprains are generally quite good. Most patients heal from an ankle sprain and are able to get back to their normal lives, sports and activities. It’s important to complete the rehabilitation program because it makes it less likely that you’ll hurt the same ankle again. If you don’t complete rehabilitation, you could suffer chronic pain, instability and arthritis in your ankle. Chronic instability occurs in patients repeatedly spraining the ankle. Such repeated episodes can be dangerous because they can lead to damage within the ankle.
How to prevent future Ankle Sprains ?
To prevent future sprained ankles, pay attention to your body’s warning signs to slow down when you feel pain or fatigue, and stay in shape with good muscle balance, flexibility and strength in your soft tissues.
Complete your ankle rehabilitation with proper ankle strengthening exercises with a qualified physiotherapist, without which you may have higher chances of repetitive ankle injury.
At ReLiva, we want you to get back to participating in the activities you enjoy as fast as possible. Get relief. Call +91 992099 1584 to speak to us today so we can connect you with a physiotherapy specialist in your area.
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Related Reading:
Ankle Pain : Cause and treatment
Sprains and Strains : RICE protocol
