How do I know if I’ve Broken my Ankle or just Sprained It?
One of the most common injuries in sports and everyday activities are injuries to the ankle. How do you know the difference between a broken or sprained ankle? To roll or sprain your is ankle is quite common. It is often difficult to tell if you have just sprained your ankle or you have broken or fractured it. The severity of the injury can often be determined by the amount of swelling and pain after the injury. Often, after a severe ankle sprain or a broken ankle the injured person also hears a “pop” or “snap” in their ankle. A broken ankle or a fracture to the ankle can be determined by an x-ray. On the lateral or outside aspect of the ankle the fibula or lateral malleolus can be fractured. This usually occurs with a twisting type motion of the ankle.
Can you Break your Ankle and still Walk on it?
Most of the time, if you can walk around, the ankle is not fractured. Sprains are more common in the ankle than fractures. Fractures are typically very painful with weight bearing activity. Immediate swelling is common with both a fracture and a sprain.
If pain limits taking steps on the injured ankle, an X-ray is typically performed to determine if there is a fracture.
Types of Ankle Fractures or Breaks
On the inside of the ankle the medial malleolus or tibia can also be fractured as well as the talus. The severity of the ankle fractures determines the treatment. Some can be treated with immobilization, while others may need surgical intervention.
There are several types of ankle fractures. These include:
- Fibula Fractures – A fracture in the outer bone of the lower leg
- Tibial Fractures – A fracture in the inner bone of the lower leg
- Malleolar Fractures – Fracture of the end of one of the leg bones
- Bimalleolar fractures – Fracture of both of the ends of the leg bones
- Trimalleolar fractures – fracture of both of the ends and the back of the lower tibia
What is an Ankle Sprain?
They range from mild to severe, depending upon how much damage there is to the ligaments. Most sprained ankles occur in the lateral ligaments on the outside of the ankle. Ankle sprains can range from tiny tears in the fibers that make up the ligament to complete tears through the tissue. If there is a complete tear of the ligaments, the ankle may become unstable after the initial injury phase passes. An ankle sprain occurs when the strong ligaments that support the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear. Ankle sprains are common injuries that occur among people of all ages.
Sprained Ankle
Over time, this instability can result in damage to the bones and cartilage of the ankle joint. Your foot can twist unexpectedly during many different activities, such as walking or exercising on an uneven surface, participating in sports that require cutting actions or rolling and twisting of the foot—or someone else may step on your foot while you are running, causing your foot to twist or roll to the side. If there is severe tearing of the ligaments, you might also hear or feel a “pop” when the sprain occurs.
Sprained Ankle Symptoms
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness to touch
- Instability of the ankle
Symptoms of a severe sprain are similar to those of a broken bone and require prompt medical evaluation. A sprained ankle is painful. Most sprains are minor injuries that heal with home treatments like rest and applying ice and compression to reduce the pain and swelling. However, if your ankle is extremely swollen and painful to walk on — or if you are having trouble putting weight on your ankle at all, be sure to see an orthopedic doctor.
Treatment of Ankle Sprains
Without proper treatment and physical therapy, a more severe sprain can weaken your ankle—making it more likely that you will injure it again. Repeated ankle sprains can lead to long-term problems, including chronic ankle pain, arthritis, and ongoing instability. A good rehabilitation program can help prevent further injury by strengthening the structures around the ankle and improving the proprioception.
ASO Ankle Brace
Often, a physician may prescribe a brace to help protect the ankle from further sprains or fractures. At JOI, our physicians and trainers use ASO brand of ankle braces. If you want to learn more about a broken ankle or a sprained ankle, go to JOI.net. JOI also has videos to learn more about the ankle and foot anatomy. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between a sprain of the foot and other cause of foot pain.
How To Treat Ankle Pain With JOI Physical Therapy
When treating patients for ankle pain, 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 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.
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