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[T1297]Treatment For Ankle Sprain

by Dana Waters, Dan

How is an ankle sprain diagnosed? First your doctor will get a complete history of the injury in detail. For example he will ask you when and how the ankle sprain occurred and ask about any prior injuries. Next, your doctor will examine your foot, ankle, and lower leg and even your knee to see if additional injury occurred. He or she may ask you to move your foot up and down and to take a few steps if possible. Your doctor will then carefully try moving your foot and ankle to see if the ligaments are intact. You will need X-rays to evaluate the ankle. X-rays can help find out whether you have any ligament tears, broken bones, or bones that have moved out of their normal positions. X-rays should always be taken for children because of potential injury to the bone's growth plate and possible disruption of normal growth. Sometimes X-rays of both ankles are necessary in order to compare the injured ankle with the one that is healthy.

How is an ankle Sprain treated?

Most ankle sprains need only a period of protection to heal. The healing process takes about four weeks to six weeks.

Early Treatments:

Rest: first 24-48 hours after the injury is considered a critical treatment period and activities need to be curtailed. You may need to use crutches if walking causes pain. Also use of a device to immobilize or splint the ankle (such as a ankle brace or walking boot) may be necessary. ICE: For the first 48 hours post-injury, ice pack and elevate the ankle sprain 20 minutes at a time every 3-4 hours. Do NOT ice a ankle sprain for more than 20 minutes at a time!! You will not be helping heal the ankle sprain any faster, and you can cause damage to the tissues! Compression: Use compression when elevating the ankle sprain in early treatment. Using an Ace bandage, wrap the ankle from the toes all the way up to the top of the calf muscle, overlapping the elastic wrap by one-half of the width of the wrap. The wrap should be snug, but not cutting off circulation to the foot and ankle. So, if your foot becomes cold, blue, or falls asleep, re-wrap! Elevation: Keep your ankle sprain higher than your heart as often as possible

More severe ankle sprain injuries, including complete tears of the ligaments and fractures of the bone may need different treatments and rehabilitation than a simple ankle sprain. Things such as balance exercises, range of motion exercises and ultrasound and electrical stimulation may also be used. Medication Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Motrin) may be used to control pain and inflammation

When is Surgery Needed? In more severe cases or injuries that fail to respond to nonsurgical treatment, surgery may be required to adequately treat an ankle sprain. Surgery often involves repairing the damaged ligament or ligaments. The foot and ankle surgeon will select the surgical procedure best suited for your case based on the type and severity of your injury as well as your activity level.

If an ankle sprain is not recognized, and is not treated with the necessary attention and care, chronic problems of pain and instability may result.

Swelling of the lower leg and ankle is a common problem. Determining the cause of ankle swelling is the first step to finding effective treatment. Once the cause of the ankle swelling is determined, effective treatment can be initiated. Painless swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem, particularly in older people. It may affect both legs and may include the calves or even the thighs. Because of the effect of gravity, swelling is particularly noticeable in these locations.

Ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries. Sprains are injuries to the ligaments of the ankle, causing them to partially or completely tear as a result of sudden stretching. They can occur on either or both of the inner and outer portions of the ankle joint. Ankle sprains more commonly happen when there is a preexisting muscle weakness in the ankle area or a history of previous ankle injuries. The typical injury occurs when the ankle is suddenly "twisted" in a sports activity or by stepping off an uneven surface.

Ligaments are injured when a greater than normal stretching force is applied to them. This happens most commonly when the foot is turned inward or inverted. This kind of injury can happen in the following ways:
Awkwardly planting the foot when running, stepping up or down, or during simple tasks such as getting out of bed
Symptoms
When you sprain your ankle there is sometimes a snapping or popping sound and a feeling of "giving way" as a ligament is torn or bone cracked. A sprain can be very painful, with the pain getting worse when you move your ankle. With a severe sprain, you may not be able to bear weight on your leg.
You may have swelling and bruising. Swelling happens soon after the injury but bruising can take up to 24 hours to fully develop. The swelling around your ankle can make it difficult to move your foot, and your ankle may feel unstable.

Relief and Prevention:
The hallmark of treatment is to reduce foot, leg and ankle swelling, and the first line of defense: leg elevation. Elevate legs above the level of the heart, which puts minimal pressure on the backs of the knees and thighs and lower back. Just sitting in a reclining chair in front of the TV is a great way to elevate your legs. Many products, for use at home or at work, can also help reduce swelling.
Brace- Wear a brace that compresses the injured area but allows full range of motion. A compressive brace will help control swelling and provide gentle support to a weakened joint. A brace made of elastic or neoprene will work great. Older braces should be replaced with new ones to make sure to keep its compressive ability.

Exercise: When able to bear weight without pain, stand in a doorway placing all your body weight on the injured ankle. Balance yourself by holding on to the door. As you start to gain more balance, close your eyes. This isolates the ankle and re-trains the proprioceptive receptors (tiny nerves receptors found in the joint) to improve your balance and to stabilize your ankle. If you perform this activity for 5 minutes every day for 2 weeks your ankle will feel much stronger.

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Both Dana Waters & Corwin Brown are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Dana Waters has sinced written about articles on various topics from Medical Condition, Fitness. Drs. Peter Wishnie and Dana Waters are podiatrists who specialize in foot and ankle surgery. Their goals are to educate the public on the care of their feet and ankles and to get them functioning as quickly as possible. They are dedicated to foot and ankl. Dana Waters's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.

Corwin Brown has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Care, Aromatherapy Bath Body Works and Wellness. . Also Read about. Corwin Brown's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.