Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain is when the ligaments that support the ankle get overly stretched or torn. It can happen when you step in a hole, twist your ankle while walking or running, or put your weight down on your foot awkwardly.

When most ankle sprains happen, the ankle is flexed and inverted (the foot turned inward toward the opposite foot). Ankle sprains are common, making up 25% of all sports-related injuries.

Symptoms of an Ankle Sprain: Signs and symptoms of a ankle sprain 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

Causes of an Ankle Sprain: A sprain occurs when your ankle is forced to move out of its normal position, which can cause one or more of the ankle's ligaments to stretch, partially tear or tear completely. 

Causes of a sprained ankle might include:

• A fall that causes your ankle to twist.
• Landing awkwardly on your foot after jumping or pivoting.
• Walking or exercising on an uneven surface.
• Another person stepping or landing on your foot during a sports activity.

Diagnosis of an Ankle Sprain: During a physical, your doctor will examine your ankle, foot and lower leg. The doctor will touch the skin around the injury to check for points of tenderness and move your foot to check the range of motion and to understand what positions cause discomfort or pain. If the injury is severe, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following imaging scans to rule out a broken bone or to evaluate in more detail the extent of ligament damage:

• X-ray: During an X-ray, a small amount of radiation passes through your body to produce images of the bones of the ankle. This test is good for ruling out bone fractures.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRIs use radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed cross-sectional or 3-D images of soft internal structures of the ankle, including ligaments.
• CT scan: CT scans can reveal more detail about the bones of the joint. CT scans take X-rays from many different angles and combine them to make cross-sectional or 3-D images.
• Ultrasound: An ultrasound uses sound waves to produce real-time images. These images may help your doctor judge the condition of a ligament or tendon when the foot is in different positions.

Treatment of an Ankle Sprain: Treatment for a sprained ankle depends on the severity of your injury. The treatment goals are to reduce pain and swelling, promote healing of the ligament, and restore function of the ankle. 

For severe injuries, you may be referred to a specialist in musculoskeletal injuries, such as an orthopedic surgeon or a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

• Rest: Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.
• Ice: Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake. If you have vascular disease, diabetes or decreased sensation, talk with your doctor before applying ice.
• Compression: To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. Don't hinder circulation by wrapping too tightly. Begin wrapping at the end farthest from your heart.

• Elevation: To reduce swelling, elevate your ankle above the level of your heart, especially at night. Gravity helps reduce swelling by draining excess fluid.
• Therapy: Once the swelling and pain is lessened enough to resume movement, your doctor will ask you to begin a series of exercises to restore your ankle's range of motion, strength, flexibility and stability. Your doctor or a physical therapist will explain the appropriate method and progression of exercises.

Exercises of an Ankle Sprain: The timing and type of rehab exercises may vary according to your doctor's or physical therapist's preferences. 

You'll probably do the following types of exercise.

• Range-of-motion exercises: These help you move the joint as far as you can in every direction that it moves.
• Stretching exercises: They help keep your Achilles tendon (heel cord) flexible while your ankle heals.
• Strengthening exercises: These strengthen the muscles so they help support your ankle.
• Balance and control exercises: They help your foot and ankle respond to activities. This can help prevent reinjury.

Effective management of ankle sprain at Spine Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC) in Shyamoli requires teamwork among medical professionals and patients, which in turn improves the patients' quality of life.

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