Ankle Sprain

What is an ankle sprain?

Your ankle joint — where your lower leg bones and upper foot bones come together — is bound in place by several ligaments. While strong and elastic, these ligaments can overstretch with one move in the wrong direction. This is an ankle sprain. With severe sprains, you might have one or more ligaments that are slightly torn or even ruptured.

How does an ankle sprain occur?

The most common cause of an ankle sprain is rolling or twisting it. This can occur if someone lands on your foot during a sporting event or simply by misstepping while going down a curb or a flight of stairs.

In any case, one thing’s for certain: Anyone can suffer from an ankle sprain. But your risk is higher due to:

• Previous ankle injury
• Inherited weak ligaments
• Running or training on hilly or uneven surfaces

Your chances of suffering from an ankle sprain are also higher if you play tennis, soccer, basketball, or another type of sport that requires sudden stopping and cutting motions.

Do I need to see a podiatrist for an ankle sprain?

Yes! An untreated ankle can be very severe and can lower your quality of life if you don’t get started on medical treatments early on. Plus, symptoms of an ankle sprain mimic fracture symptoms. Because of this, it’s important to come into Southwest Foot & Ankle as soon as possible after your injury occurs, especially if you’re experiencing:

• Difficulty bearing weight on your ankle
• Swelling, inflammation, or tenderness
• Bruising or redness

When you injure your ankle, try to keep it elevated and apply ice packs regularly until you can get into the clinic nearest you.

How does a podiatrist treat an ankle sprain?

Your dedicated podiatrist at Southwest Foot & Ankle thoroughly examines you during your foot and ankle evaluation. To determine the severity of your ankle and to rule out a broken bone, your podiatrist may gather an in-office X-ray. After diagnosing your ankle sprain, your podiatrist counsels you about what to expect throughout your recovery.

Your podiatrist provides different types of therapies throughout various stages of your recovery period to relieve pain, promote healing, and prevent re-injury. Ankle sprain treatment plans often include:

• Multiwave Locked System (MLS) Therapy Laser
• Compression wrapping, bracing, or casting
• Anti-inflammatory medications or injections

Your podiatrist also teaches you range-of-motion and strength-training exercises to perform after your initial healing phase so you can rebuild and improve your ankle strength.

Click on the request appointment tool to book your ankle sprain evaluation at Southwest Foot & Ankle today. You can also call the office to schedule an appointment.