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Whether it is during an athletic event or part of your everyday activities, an ankle sprain can occur when you least expect it. An awkward step or uneven surfaces are often the cause for a sprained ankle. It is important to take precautions when it comes to protecting your ankles from sudden twists and movements of the foot that can cause sprains. Americans experience approximately 850,000 ankle sprains each year, which makes it the most common injury in the United States. Now, that is a lot of ankle sprains! With proper treatment and prevention, you should be able to further protect your ankles from any unexpected twisting or rolling motions. How Did I Sprain My Ankle? Typically, ankle sprains can occur when walking on uneven surfaces. This injury is often a result of a fall, sudden twist, or a force of the ankle joint out of its normal position. While participating in various sports events, ankle sprains may commonly occur as well. Your ankle sprain may often be a result of an inward roll injury. This is when your foot is forced to invert, putting abnormal pressure on the outside of your foot that generally does not receive that kind of stress. The pressure then stretches or tears one or more of the lateral ligaments of the joint, resulting in a sprained ankle. Symptoms of a Sprained Ankle Your symptoms upon spraining your ankle may vary depending on the severity of your pain and how it occurred. The symptoms of an ankle sprain may include: • Pain or soreness
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Difficulty walking
• Stiffness in the joint All ankle sprains will produce some level of pain at the time of your injury and the joint will also feel tender, beginning to swell. If your sprain is mild, you may experience a slight loss in the function of your joint. You may not fall when the injury occurs, either, and walking will produce mild discomfort, but your ability to walk will still be intact. With a more serious sprain, you will most likely fall during the initial impact of the injury. It will often be difficult to move or put weight on your injured ankle, producing bruising and swelling from the ankle to the foot. Once you have had ankle sprains or other ankle injuries before, you may have a weakened joint that creates more of a chance for future injuries to take place. Treatment and Prevention Treatment for your ankle sprain begins with self-care. The RICE evaluation is highly recommended upon the initial onset of your injury: • Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation When your podiatrist feels you are ready to begin participating in sports and exercising, you can help prevent further sprains by wearing an ankle brace during the first initial months of being back on your ankle. Special wraps are also available to protect your ankle. If your symptoms still persist after taking the initial step of at-home-care, a visit to your Warwick podiatrist may be in order. With a consultation with your podiatrist, your ankle sprain can be treated and further prevented. There is no need to put an end to your athletic lifestyle with recurring ankle injuries.
Foot & Ankle Institute of New England is a leading podiatrist in Warwick and Middletown in RI and Fall River in MA. Providing quality foot care for infants, children and adults from three convenient locations, this Fall River, Warwick and Middletown podiatrist offers an array of foot and ankle treatments, including heel pain relief and flat foot care.
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