Everything About Ankle Sprains - Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

The ankle joint is a synovial joint forming the junction of the tibia and fibula bones of the leg snugly holding the talus bone of the foot with two sets of ligaments securing its flexion and extension movements. When the ankle is twisted, rolled or turned abruptly and excessively, the two sets of ligaments get over-strained and sprained causing pain and instability thereafter. Moreover, the lateral ligaments are most vulnerable to such injuries which are commonly observed in athletes involved in running-based sports such as football, cricket, hockey, basketball, etc. however, they can occur in any person who accidentally strains the ankle in any direction.

Chronic Ankle Instability:

An ankle sprain, if not healed in time, can lead to further repeated ankle sprains with severe damage to the ligaments and cartilage bone, and chronic ankle instability. This condition occurs as after spraining, the connective tissues of the ankle are damaged and loosened, affecting its stability. It takes sufficient time and rest for these sprained tissues to regain their strength and secure the joint stably. Without sufficient healing time, the chances of the ligaments spraining again are increased, leading to irreparable tears and chronic instability.

Symptoms of Ankle Sprains:

The obvious symptoms which indicate a sprained ankle include:

●        Mild to severe pain while running or lifting weights

●        Tender sensation in the joint

●        Mild to severe swelling and bruising over the ankle

●        limited motion in specific directions

●        Instability while standing up or walking

●        A popping sound at the time of injury

Causes Of Ankle Sprains:

And apart from the running-related causes, some specific foot movements can also cause your ankle to sprain, such as:

●        Jumping or pivoting unstably

●        Falling directly on feet

●        Running or working out on an irregular surface

●        Running while someone accidentally steps on your foot

Diagnosis Of Ankle Sprains:

An ankle specialist typically diagnoses sprains by checking for tenderness and range of motion. In some cases, an X-ray or MRI may also be required.

During the diagnosis, your ankle specialist will determine the severity of the sprain to suggest suitable treatment options. Your sprain injury will be typically categorised on one of the three grades:

Grade One Sprain: a mild sprain with slightly stretched ligaments with or without microscopic tears

Grade Two Sprain: a moderate sprain with partially torn ligaments causing significant tenderness, swelling and instability

Grade Three Sprain: a severe sprain with a completely torn ligament causing severe tenderness and instability in the joint

Treatments For Ankle Sprains:

Non-surgical Treatments:

Most ankle sprains can be easily rectified with home remedies and activity modifications. The first treatment any ankle specialist would suggest for mild sprains will be the RICE protocol which is to:

●        Rest without moving the ankle for awhile

●        Ice the joint to subdue pain and swelling

●        Compress the joint with bandages

●        Elevate the joint about the heart-level while resting

You may be asked to wear braces and crutches to prevent movement of the joint and the pain it causes.

A Physical Therapy program can also help improve the condition significantly. The goal of a physical therapy and rehabilitation program will be to increase the ankle’s strength and prevent stiffness or chronic ankle problems in the future. The essential types of exercises will include:

●        Range of motion exercises

●        Muscle strengthening exercises

●        Agility enhancement exercises

Surgical Treatments:

For severe sprains with completely torn ligaments causing instability and pain untreatable via therapy and medications, your ankle specialist may recommend a minimally invasive surgical option such as:

Arthroscopy:

Here, miniature instruments are used to remove any torn ligaments, cartilage or bone pieces that are restricting the joint’s mobility and repairing those ligaments.

Reconstruction surgery:

Here, a severely torn ligament is reconstructed with sutures or replaced with tissue autografts from the foot to re-establish the ankle’s essential stability and strength.

Ankle surgeries are quite common and easily recoverable these days. So, if you’re looking for an ankle specialist in Mumbai, you must visit Dr Pranjal Kodkani and discuss your best treatment options with him, as he can help you with an array of non-surgical, surgical and preventive treatments for ankle joint problems.