Sometimes one awkward step is all it takes for your foot to twist sideways. Sometimes your ankle may swell up and hurt. If you cannot put weight on your foot, or if you have difficulty walking, it is likely you have sprained your ankle. A broken ankle is much less common. Of the people who go to the hospital because of a painful ankle, only about 15% turn out to have broken it.
A sprained ankle can range from a harmless stretched ligament to serious ligament tears which will limit mobility for a long time. Ankle sprains generally heal well, but a little patience is needed. The ankle, or ankle joint, can lose its stability after the injury, so that it will be necessary to do exercises to improve its strength.
The ligaments most commonly damaged when we twist our ankle are the ones that run along the outside of the ankle. They are called outer or lateral ligaments. This type of sprain is called an inversion injury. Ankle sprains are also more common in people with high arches, slower muscle reaction time or muscle weakness. Athletes also carry a higher risk. One quarter of all sports injuries are ruptures of the outer ligaments. Most ankle sprains happen when the foot turns inward as a person runs, turns, falls, or lands on the ankle after a jump.
When the ankle is twisted, blood vessels tear as well – the front and side of the ankle become swollen. Generally speaking, the worse the swelling, the more severe the injury is.
To immediately treat pain and swelling, you can relieve your foot by following the R.I.C.E. treatment plan: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This means lying down, keeping your foot elevated, cooling the ankle and wrapping it in an elastic bandage to put mild pressure on it.
If the symptoms do not get considerably better after a few days, a ligament might be torn. It usually takes four to seven days before a doctor can diagnose a ligament rupture with certainty. If you think that it might be a more severe ankle sprain, a doctor can find out how serious it is. The ankle can be X-rayed to see whether a bone is broken. If the ankle is broken, you are likely to be unable to walk, and it hurts when the doctor puts pressure on the affected bone.
If the ligaments are torn, it will take weeks before you can put your full weight on your foot again. The ligaments need to rest to be able to heal completely, so you will need to wear an ankle brace for several weeks. Your PT will show you how to do these exercises and will follow-up with you on your way to recovery.
Chronic Ankle Instability:
Some people have very weak ligaments and therefore tend to sprain their ankles more easily. If you have chronic ankle instability you are more likely to twist your foot again and sprain your ankle.
Chronic ankle instability and frequent twisting and spraining can also increase wear and tear on joint cartilage. Cartilage is a smooth tissue that covers the joints with a protective layer. If the cartilage is damaged too severely, it may lead to osteoarthritis. Therefore, it is very important in the long run to take good care of your joints.
Can Sprains and Strains Be Prevented?
People can do many things to help lower their risk of sprains and strains:
? Avoid exercising or playing sports when tired or in pain.
? Practice safety measures to help prevent falls. E.g. keep walkways, yards, and driveways free of clutter; anchor scatter rugs
? Replace athletic shoes as soon as the tread wears out or the heel wears down on one side.
? Do stretching exercises daily.
? Warm up and stretch before participating in any sport or exercise.
? Run on even surfaces.
Physical therapy is an important part of prevention and recovery, with the overall goal of improving the condition of the injured area and restoring its function. Your PT will design a treatment plan to prevent stiffness, improve range of motion, and restore the joint’s normal flexibility and strength.
When the acute pain and swelling have diminished, your PT will instruct you to do a series of exercises several times a day. These are very important because they help reduce swelling, prevent stiffness, and restore normal, pain-free range of motion. The duration of the program depends on the extent of the injury, but the regimen commonly lasts for several weeks.
Another goal of rehabilitation is to increase strength and regain flexibility. Depending on the patient’s rate of recovery, this process begins about the second week after the injury. Your PT will instruct you to do a series of exercises designed to meet these goals.
The final goal is the return to full daily activities, including sports, when appropriate. You must work closely with your PT to determine readiness to return to full activity. Sometimes people are tempted to resume full activity or play sports despite pain or muscle soreness. Returning to full activity before regaining normal range of motion, flexibility and strength increases the chance of re-injury and may lead to a chronic problem.
The amount of rehabilitation and the time needed for full recovery after a sprain or strain depend on the severity of the injury and individual rates of healing.
Call Dr. Richardson for more information or to make an appointment for a complete assessment.
Tel #: (264) 584-3546 / 772-3546
Via email: GinaRichardsonDPT@gmail.com
