Sprained Ankle

What is a sprained ankle?

A sprained ankle is a stretch or tear of the ligaments at your ankle. Your ligaments hold your ankle bones together and keep them stable. You sprain your ankle when you twist, roll, or turn your ankle beyond its natural limits.

Sprained ankles are a common sports injury. They most often affect athletes who play sports that involve twisting, jumping, and sudden changes of direction, including soccer, basketball, gymnastics, dancing, baseball and tennis. These activities put you at risk of landing awkwardly on your ankle, twisting it in a fall, or having someone else land on your foot, forcing it out of position.  

You don’t have to be an athlete or even involved in a demanding physical activity to sprain your ankle. Many people sprain their ankles when they walk on an uneven surface or aren’t careful when getting out of bed.

What are the symptoms of a sprained ankle?

Sprained ankles usually cause pain, which may range from mild or severe. If the cause of your pain is a sprained ankle, you can usually trace it to a specific event. The severity of your pain depends in part on whether you excessively stretched the ligaments in the ankle or tore them.

A mild ankle sprain may only cause a brief burst of pain as you twist your ankle. In many cases, however, the pain lingers and can interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms and signs of an ankle sprain include:

• Pain that worsens when you put weight on your ankle
• Tenderness, swelling, and bruising
• Difficulty moving your ankle

Schedule an appointment at Ahwatukee Foot & Ankle Center right away if you’re having difficulty walking or bearing weight. Your podiatrist can treat your sprain and evaluate your ligament damage using state-of-the-art imaging technology, including 3D imaging and ultrasound visualization.

How are sprained ankles treated?

When you have a sprained ankle, it’s your podiatrist's goal for you to recover quickly and to know how to avoid future ankle sprains while staying just as active as you were before.

Sprained ankles usually respond to the RICE method — rest, ice, compression, and elevation. To manage the discomfort, he may also recommend you take anti-inflammatory medication. Depending on the severity of the sprain, your doctor may fit you with a brace or walking boot so you can easily walk while your ankle heals, and advises you on how to safely reintroduce physical activity.

When there’s significant damage to the ligaments in your ankle, you may need a more serious approach. This includes regenerative injections to promote healthy tissue growth. The experienced team of podiatric surgeons at the practice may recommend reconstructive surgery for your ankle, which they perform using minimally invasive and arthroscopic techniques.

If sprained ankles are a recurring issue for you, there may be problems with your form, equipment, or training that increase your risk of ankle sprains. One way to support your ankle and prevent sprains is through an orthotic device that can stabilize your ankle and help you better absorb the impact of exercise.

To get your ankle pain diagnosed and treated, book an appointment at Ahwatukee Ankle & Foot Center or over the phone.