Ankle Sprain: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

By Tim Wall, MS, ATC

 

Understanding an Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprains are a common injury affecting many people. They happen when the ligaments in the ankle, which are like strong bands of tissue connecting bones, get stretched or torn. This can happen during sports, workouts, or even from a misstep off a sidewalk. Ankle sprains are marked by pain, swelling, and difficulty walking or putting weight on the injured ankle.

This article will help you understand ankle sprains, their symptoms, how they’re diagnosed, treatment options, prevention methods, and what to expect during recovery.

What exactly is an Ankle Sprain?

An ankle sprain is a common injury involving damage to the ligaments in the ankle. The severity of an ankle sprain can range from mild to severe, depending on how badly the ligament is damaged.

Ankle sprains can be of different types:

• Inversion sprain: The most common type, occurs when the foot rolls inward, stretching the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.
• Eversion sprain: Happens when the foot rolls outward, stretching the ligaments on the inside of the ankle.
• High ankle sprain: This affects the ligaments above the ankle joint and is typically caused by a twisting force.

Common causes of ankle sprains include sports injuries, walking on uneven surfaces, and wearing shoes without proper support. If you think you’ve sprained your ankle, it’s important to get medical attention for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Quick treatment can prevent further injury and speed up recovery.

Recognizing symptoms of an ankle sprain

If you think you’ve sprained your ankle, it’s important to know the symptoms. Pain and swelling are most common. The pain is often sharp and located in the injured area. Swelling happens due to the body’s response to injury.

Difficulty walking or putting weight on the injured ankle is another symptom. The pain and instability caused by the sprain can make it hard to walk or even stand. Bruising and tenderness can also occur.

If you have these symptoms, see a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

How are ankle sprains diagnosed?

If you think you’ve sprained your ankle, it’s crucial to get a proper diagnosis from a healthcare professional. They’ll examine your ankle for tenderness, swelling, and bruising. They may also do tests to check the stability of your ankle joint and look for ligament damage.

In some cases, X-rays or an MRI might be needed to rule out fractures or assess the extent of the sprain. Diagnosing an ankle sprain can be challenging because the symptoms are similar to those of a fracture. But by doing a thorough exam and using imaging tests when needed, healthcare professionals can accurately diagnose an ankle sprain and suggest appropriate treatment.

What if my ankle pops?

A pop in an acute ankle sprain may mean that the ligaments have been damaged.  If the pop is not related to an injury, it could be a number of different things.  The common follow-up questions to these concerns are:

• Was the ankle pop painful?
• Did the ankle swell up?
• Is there numbness or tingling in the ankle?

If the ankle pop is painful and followed up with trauma, it could cause ligament damage in the area.  If you recently twisted their ankle and is now experiencing painful and regular popping in the affected ankle. This could be due to moderate or severe damage to the ankle’s supportive ligaments and may require immobilization to heal and protect from further injury.

Is It Bad to Pop Your Ankles?

Patients who experience pain relief from popping and cracking their ankle joints proceed with caution to avoid becoming a chronic popper. If frequent and daily popping is required to reduce pain and stiffness in the ankle, the next step should be figuring out what is causing the pain and stiffness to begin with. A common example of this is patients who crack their backs. Temporary relief can be achieved with cracking. However, the issue’s root is most likely resolved with exercise, attention to posture and body mechanics, and stabilization training.

Ankle Sprain or Harmless Cracking of Ankle?

Cracking within ankle joints is common and frequently harmless in most patients. The concern is warranted if a recent traumatic injury or event occurred, and subsequent painful cracking and popping are experienced. Lastly, it is important to be mindful of our bodies, remain aware of new occurrences or changes, and KEEP MOVING!

Treating ankle sprains

Ankle sprains can be painful and limiting, but with the right treatment, you can recover and get back to your normal activities. Here are some treatment methods:

R.I.C.E. method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation): This is a common initial treatment. Resting the injured ankle lets it heal, ice helps reduce swelling, compression gives support and stability, and elevation helps decrease swelling.

Braces or splints: These can provide additional stability and support. They help prevent further injury and assist in the healing process.

Physical therapy: A physical therapist can guide you through exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and balance, which can significantly enhance your recovery and reduce the risk of another sprain.

Remember, it’s important to get medical advice for an accurate diagnosis and to find the most suitable treatment for your specific situation.

How To Treat Ankle Pain With JOI Physical Therapy

When treating ankle pain patients, JOI Rehab clinicians will commonly focus on range-of-motion with active and passive mobility exercises. Another form of therapy is strength training. This will help with the stability of the ankle. Balance position sense is another key factor in treating ankle pain and preventing patients from losing their sense of balance due to ankle injuries. Different pairs of shoes may also help with healing ankle pains. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is keeping up with your health. Weight loss and a healthy BMI are always recommended in the treatment of ankle pain.

Recovering from Ankle Sprains

With proper care and treatment, most people fully recover from ankle sprains. Recovery time varies depending on the severity of the sprain.

For mild sprains, healing usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation can help during this time. Physical therapy exercises may also be recommended.

Severe sprains, which involve partial or complete ligament tears, may take longer to heal. In these cases, a cast or walking boot may be needed, along with physical therapy.

While most people recover fully, some may experience chronic pain, instability, and a higher risk of future sprains. Regular strength and balance exercises, wearing appropriate footwear, avoiding uneven surfaces, and warming up before exercise can help reduce these risks.

Preventing Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are common but can be prevented. By warming up properly, wearing the right shoes, and doing strengthening exercises, you can reduce your risk.

Before any physical activity, do dynamic stretches that target the muscles around the ankle. This will increase flexibility and reduce strain. Also, wear shoes that provide proper support and have good grip.

Strengthening exercises can greatly improve ankle stability. Exercises like calf raises, ankle circles, and one-leg stands can strengthen the muscles and ligaments around the ankle, making it more resilient to injury.

By following these preventive measures, you can minimize your risk of spraining your ankle.

If you want to learn more, please read these related articles: High Ankle Sprains, JOI Rehab Physical Therapy Locations in Jacksonville and Ankle Braces. 

Related Video: Basic Ankle Ankle Exercises Video 

JOI and JOI Rehab

JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments.  This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.  JOI has the most experienced team of Foot and Ankle Physicians and Clinicians to help you.

You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.  A new option, you can now schedule and cancel follow-up appointments with your physician at the JOI Patient Portal. 

To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.  If you’ve sprained your ankle, see a JOI Physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. By following the recommended guidelines, you can speed up your recovery and reduce the chance of future ankle sprains.

By: Tim Wall, MS, ATC

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