Sprained ankle
Alternative Names
Sprained ankleWhat is Sprained ankle
A sprained ankle is a condition when your ankle is injured. It happens when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way. This stretches or tears the tough bands of tissue (ligaments). They hold your ankle bones together, stabilize joints preventing excessive movement.
Signs and symptoms
If you have sprained you ankle you have the following signs as:
- Pain especially when you bear weight on the affected foot
- Swelling and bruising
- Restricted range of motion
Possible complications
Left untreated a sprained ankle may lead to the following complications:
- Chronic pain
- Chronic ankle joint instability
- Early-onset arthritis in that joint
What causes
A sprain occurs when the foot is turned inward or inverted. In these cases ligaments are injured.
The occasional events may lead to a sprained ankle such as:
- A fall that causes your ankle to twist
- Landing awkwardly on your foot after jumping or pivoting
- Walking or exercising on an uneven surface
Prevention
To prevent a sprained ankle you should:
- Warm up before you exercise or play sports
- Be careful when walking, running or working on an uneven surface
- Wear comfortable proper shoes
- Avoid playing sports or participate in activities for which you are not conditioned
- Maintain good muscle strength and flexibility
- Practice stability training including balance exercises
Treatment
Treatment for a sprained ankle varies depending on the severity of your injury. In many cases it may be simply treated at home(giving rest to the ankle, applying ice and compression to the injury, providing elevation to the injured ankle).
If injury is serious, it may require the following treatments:
- Pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Therapy to restore your ankle's range of motion, strength, flexibility and balance
- Surgical procedures
