What is an Ankle Sprain?
The ankle joint is an important joint used for walking. A joint is formed where bones come together. Joints are held together by tissue called ligaments. The ligaments allow for motion of the bones at the joint, but only within certain ranges of motion.
An ankle sprain occurs when the ankle ligaments are stretched more than normal. This may be caused from the ankle “rolling” or “twisting” during an awkward fall or simply stepping down wrong. This may result in a partial tear or complete tear of the ankle ligaments.
The trauma to the ankle ligaments causes pain, bruising and problems bearing weight. The pain is usually located on the outside of the ankle but may cause pain to both sides of the ankle if severe. The ligament damage may result in the development of abnormal motion at the joint due to the loss of stability. This may increase the likelihood of future ankle sprains and instability of the joint which can lead to arthritic changes in the joint.
Treatment Options
Treatment options vary between the types of ankle sprains along with the severity and trauma caused to surrounding tissues. Being that the ankle is such a supportive structure in the body, it is imperative to seek care by a trained podiatrist in evaluating a sprained ankle. In the podiatrists office, you will have access to diagnostic tools such as Digital X-ray, Ultrasound, and MRI to properly diagnose the severity of the ankle sprain. This allows you as the patient more precise diagnoses to help in selecting treatment options. Options that can help alleviate a mildly painful sprained ankle can be, injectables to help bring down inflammation, along with bracing or strapping to immobilize affected joints and ligaments. More severe sprains can introduce stress fractures or even ligament or tendon tear that can, in extreme cases require surgical intervention to ensure proper healing and mitigate future issues such as Arthritis with the affected ankle.
Are you suffering with pain from an ankle sprain? Find a Location and a physician near you and schedule an evaluation today.
