Sprained Ankles

Sprained Ankles

Sprained ankles are the most common ankle injury. An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more ligaments in the ankle. Ligaments are bands of tissue connecting one bone to another and bind the joints together.

The severity of an ankle sprain and the duration of recovery will depend on the extent of damage to the ligaments and the degree of joint instability. It’s important to consult an experienced podiatrist as an early diagnosis of your injury will help determine the appropriate treatment and aid in your recovery.

Rachel Miller is a highly experienced podiatrist who treats many people for sprained ankles. Please see below if you want more detailed explanation of a sprained ankle, its symptoms, causes and treatment.

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Symptoms of sprained ankle

Symptoms of sprained ankle include:

• pain
• swelling
• stiffness
• tenderness
• loss of movement in the ankle

Causes of sprained ankles

Your foot structure can be a predisposing factor to your susceptibility to sprained ankles. An experienced podiatrist can give you a comprehensive biomechanical assessment to assess that susceptibility.  You may be prescribed an orthotic insole as part of your treatment plan. An orthotic insole can to help correct overpronation, where a foot rolls in during gate or supination, where a foot rolls out during gate, which may stress and strain the ankle and cause instability.

A sprained ankle can increase your risk of re-injury as much as 40-70%, but carefully following the rehabilitation advice of an experienced podiatrist may help lower that risk.

Treatment of sprained ankles

Immediate treatment of some ankle sprains can help reduce pain and swelling.

The PRICE regime is often adopted:

• Protect – protect the area of injury
• Rest – rest your ankle for up to 48 hours
• Ice – apply ice packs as instructed by your medical practitioner
• Compression –  use an elasticised bandage to help reduce further swelling
• Elevation – keep the ankle elevated if possible

An ankle sprain can include a fractured bone, muscle tear or an over stressed tendon.  You may need to have an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI to diagnose your ankle and to check whether there is also a fracture.

Full recovery from an ankle sprain aims to restore the normal range of motion to your ankle joint and strengthen its ligaments and supporting muscle. Exercises specific to your rehabilitation can help prevent re-occurrence.

If you have suffered from an ankle injury, you should see an experienced podiatrist who can diagnose your condition and give appropriate treatment.

Treatments can include:

• footwear advice
• heel pads
• self-help advice
• tailored exercise and stretching regimes
• orthotic insole

You may be prescribed an orthotic insole as part of your treatment plan. An orthotic insole can to help correct overpronation, where a foot rolls in during gate or supination, where a foot rolls out during gate, which may stress and strain the ankle and cause instability. A bespoke orthotic insole can also support and cushion the foot, reducing pain on impact when walking and running.

Call the Clinic for an appointment