Injury Centre | Ankle
Ankle
An ankle sprain is the most common sports injury to the ankle and the long term consequences of an ankle sprain is a common cause of chronic ankle pain. The most common type is the inversion ankle sprain, in which the ankle rolls over on the outside and this is a common sports injury in football and rugby.
An ankle sprain includes stretching and tearing of ligaments. With the sprained ankle the most common damage is done to the ligaments - sometimes the tendons can also become injured.
Anything that makes the ankle 'tip over' increases the chance of an ankle sprain - this can occur in Sunday league football games on uneven surfaces of poorly maintained pitches!
Sprain instigators -
- poor rehab of a prior ankle injury
- poor proprioception - the ability to sense where a joint is ; if your body does not know where your ankle is, the muscles will not be able to prevent the ankle sprain reoccuring.
- some people's feet can be very easy to twist over- this is common in those who frequently 'roll the ankle', without actually doing any damage and spraining the ankle
- weak muscles
Ankle sprain types |
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The sprained ankle is often classified by its severity: First degree: * Some stretching or mild tearing of the ligament.
* Some more severe tearing of the ligaments
* Total rupture of a ligament - there is a loss of motion |
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Treatment |
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The sooner treatment starts for a sprained ankle, the greater chance to prevent chronic pain and long term instability. For all grades of ankle sprain follow the R.I.C.E. principles as soon as possible: * Rest * Ice - this helps to keep the swelling down. Use ice on the injury several times a day for 15-20 minutes * Compression bandages are needed to immobilize the ankle sprain and to support the injury. * Elevation - ideally the ankle should be above your heart level for as much as you can. If the sprain is a 2nd or 3rd degree ankle sprain, seek professional advice immediately. |
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If the ankle sprain is a 2nd degree sprain, then in addition to the R.I.C.E. principle, a more effective means of immoblisation may be needed. Anti-inflammatory medication may also be used to help. If the ankle sprain is a 3rd degree sprain, cast immoblisation is needed. Surgery to repair the ruptured ligament is also often needed. Ultrasound and/or friction massage are often used when the acute phase is over. As soon as treatment is instigated, consideration must be given to adequate rehabilitation:
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Disclaimer
All content within sports injury insurance is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Sports injury insurance is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the injury centre. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.