An ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries. It is a stretching or tearing of ligaments — the tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect two bones together in your joints. The most common location for a sprain is in your ankle.
Initial treatment includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Mild sprains can be successfully treated at home. Severe sprains sometimes require surgery to repair torn ligaments.
Signs and symptoms of a sprained ankle vary depending on the severity of the injury. They may include:
Pain, especially when you bear weight on the affected foot
Tenderness when you touch the ankle
Swelling
Bruising
Restricted range of motion
Instability in the ankle
Popping sensation or sound at the time of injury
Sprains can range from minor to severe.
Three "grades" of sprain based on the amount of damage:
Grade 1: Your ankle will probably feel sore and may be slightly swollen. In this case, the ligament has been overstretched but not torn.
Grade 2: You have a partial tear in the ligament. This causes prolonged pain and swelling. It might prevent you from putting your full weight on the ankle. You may also notice bruising. This is because the tear has caused bleeding under your skin.
Grade 3: This is a full tear of the ankle ligament. You may have heard a popping sound when it happened. This level of sprain causes severe pain, swelling, and bruising. Because the ligament is no longer able to do its job, your ankle will feel unstable and you'll be unable to walk normally.
Prevention
The best way to prevent ankle sprains is to maintain good muscle strength, balance, and flexibility. The following precautions will help prevent sprains:
Warm up thoroughly before exercise and physical activity.
Perform strengthening exercises to enhance your ankle stability.
Pay careful attention when walking, running, or working on an uneven surface.
Choose footwear with appropriate support for your activity.
If you have pain and swelling in your ankle and you suspect a sprain, self-care measures may be all you need but talk to our team at Pioneer Podiatry to discuss whether you should have your ankle evaluated. If signs and symptoms are severe, you may have significant damage to a ligament or a broken bone in your ankle or lower leg.