When someone stumbles, turns, and twists their ankle, a sudden sharp pain is felt, isn’t it? So, is this a sprained ankle? Today’s article is all about that! It aims to give you all the required information on what exactly a sprained ankle is.
A sprained ankle is a frequently occurring injury that takes place when the ankle ligaments are torn or vastly stretched usually from incidents of turning, twisting, and rolling of your ankles.
As single or multiple ligaments enact on your ligaments pop or tear, the sprain is the result. If immediate attention and treatment aren’t delivered long-term effects might show up sooner or later.
A journal published in the National Library of Medicine, studying the epidemiology of ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability in Nepal revealed that in acute ankle sprains and injuries 70% of individuals may develop a residual physical disability, including issues such as persistent ankle instability.
How To Differentiate Ankle Sprain and Broken Ankle?
It is quite easy to identify if someone has attained an ankle sprain or a broken ankle as the cause of origin. If the ligaments are torn, or ripped as a result of an injury, stretch, twist, and turn, an ankle sprain occurs.
However, if the ankle has a fracture where one or more bones are broken, a broken ankle is the result. The intensity of pain in both situations is similar, however, given that a sprain is just a rupture in the ligament, the healing time for this is comparatively faster.
Types Of Sprained Ankle
Ankle sprains come in variations and usually, 3 types of ankle sprains are commonly identified according to the intensity of ligament damaged:
Grade 1 (Mild): In this grade of ankle sprain, ligament fibers usually are just stretched a little or may have endured very little tear. Areas around your ankle and foot swell minorly with little pain
Grade 2 (Moderate): As suggested by the name “moderate” the ligament in this scenario is mildly damaged to the point there is a big tear but not torn completely. The intensity of pain is greater than grade 1 ankle sprain. Difficulty in movement of the ankle joint is commonly observed.
Grade 3 (Severe): In this grade of an ankle sprain, the ligament is torn completely with bruises, extreme swelling, and very painful to even touch with a finger. This makes moving the joints a hefty task and walking even more difficult.
Symptoms Of Sprained Ankle
Let’s identify how can you confirm in case a sprained ankle injury takes place. The symptoms are usually the following:
- Severe pain, while engaging in any activity directly related to ankle joint movement
- Tenderness to the touch
- Swelling around the area
- Bruising
- Walking becomes very difficult with the intensity of scorching pain
- Popping sensation and hearing during the time of the injury
Diagnosis Process
Diagnosis is the most vital process in confirming an ankle injury. Self-observation and the conclusion of an injury are not recommended as advanced medical attention might be needed.
A physician or an orthopedic surgeon will thoroughly examine your foot and ankle to identify the severity of the sprain by performing a range of motion actions with the ankle.
This is later followed by an X-ray for an even more in-depth analysis and a solid conclusion to the exact degree of sprain. Treat will follow after this!
Ankle Sprain Treatment
Doctors and medical professionals will guide you on your way to recovery! Uniqueness does exist in cases with advanced medical processes to be performed.
In normal cases, health practitioners suggest following the PRICE method. Breaking down each alphabet in “PRICE” and their meaning below:
a) Protection:
Protecting the ankle with a crutch or crutches and applying a splint or brace minimize the overall movement that an ankle endures.
b) Rest:
Rest in the simplest form means reducing physical activities as much as possible for faster healing as well as ensuring that no additional stress is applied on the ankle. Examples of activities start from as simple as walking to intense activities such as running, gym workouts, and cycling
c) Ice:
Apply a cold pack of ice by wrapping it in a towel and applying it over the sprained area for a couple of minutes. Repeating this process with intervals in between helps reduce the swelling significantly.
d) Comprehension:
Wrapping ankle in a bandage to simply decrease swelling
e) Elevation:
Elevating your ankle in a higher platform such as pillows and cushions lying down on your back. This makes sure your ankle is rested and raised at a place higher than your heart and is an efficient method of ankle sprain treatment
Healing Time
With timely treatment and the right medical guidance, most ankle sprains heal on their own. Following the PRICE method or any other medical procedure as guided by the doctor, one’s effort in contributing to healing is significant.
Failure to comply with healing methods can cause long-lasting instability (chronic ankle sprains). Usually, 3 to 6 months is sufficient for an ankle sprain to heal completely. However, in case of a complete tear of the ligament, it might take months to obtain complete healing.
