Understanding Sprained Ankles: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Sprained ankle is also known as ankle sprain or ankle twist etc. This is a common problem in which one or two ligaments present in the ankle joint get damaged. Due to sprain in the ankle, you become completely unable to run, jump and even walk properly.

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How many types of ankle sprain are there?

The type of ankle sprain is determined according to the severity of the injury to the ligaments present in the ankle, such as:

Stage 1 sprain (mild):

• Slight stretching of the ligaments and slight damage to the fibers of the affected ligament
• Swelling around the ankle and slight pain on touch 

Stage 2 sprain (moderate):

• A part of the ligaments is damaged
• Swelling around the ankle and severe pain on touch
• When the doctor moves the ankle, the ankle feels unusually loose

Stage 3 sprain (severe):

• The ligaments are completely torn
• Severe swelling around the ankle and extreme pain on touch
• When the doctor presses or stretches the affected ankle, a special type of instability is felt in the ankle.

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How does a sprained ankle occur?

The foot may suddenly twist during the following activities, which can cause ankle sprain:

• Walking or exercising on rough ground
• Suddenly falling on the ground
• Participating in a sport that requires sudden bending or rotating of the foot, such as basketball, tennis, football and running etc.
• If another player steps on your foot while you are running during sports activities, your foot may get twisted. 

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When does the risk of ankle sprain increase?

The following are some factors that increase the risk of ankle sprain:

Having had an ankle injury before:

• If you have had multiple sprains in the past or your ankle has been injured before, then the risk of ankle sprain increases again.
• Rough ground.
• Walking or running on a ground that is not flat or is rough, then the risk of spraining the foot increases significantly.

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Not wearing proper shoes:

If you are wearing shoes that do not fit your feet properly or you have not worn shoes properly according to physical activity, then the risk of spraining the foot increases. Apart from this, wearing sandals with high heels also increases the risk of ankle sprain.

Physical condition not being good:

If the ankles are not physically strong or they lack flexibility, then the risk of ankle sprain increases during sports etc.

Participating in sports:

People who participate in sports have an increased risk of ankle sprain.

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What are the symptoms of sprained ankles?

Ankle sprain can cause the following symptoms, such as:

Pain at the sprained site:
The pain in the area affected by the sprain is usually quite intense and develops suddenly. Apart from this, when an attempt is made to move the ankle or when the body weight is put on the ankle, the pain becomes worse.

Severe pain at the time of trauma:
In cases of severe sprain, when the ligament is completely damaged, it causes extremely intense pain. Not only this, this pain can be so intense that it makes the patient completely unable to move.

Bruising in the affected area:
Apart from swelling, the skin of the patient's affected ankle may become blue, purple or red or the color of the normal skin may also deteriorate. Change in color of the ankle indicates damage to the ligaments or accumulation of blood in the affected area.

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Not being able to move the ankle completely:
If a person's foot is severely sprained, then it becomes difficult to bend, rotate or move the foot. Activities that put weight on the ankle, such as walking, can be very difficult. 

Feeling sound from the ankle:
When the ankle is injured, the patient may hear a sound like 'cracking' or 'cracking' from the ankle. Often such a sound is produced due to excessive stretching or tearing of the ligament.

When should one consult a doctor?
If your ankle is swollen or painful or you feel that your foot has been sprained, then consult a doctor. If there is a lot of pain in putting weight on the ankle or walking, then get it treated by a doctor as soon as possible. Apart from this, consult a doctor in the following conditions:

• The shape of the joint looks strange
• If the injured person's skin has turned yellow or his pulse has become fast.

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During the test, the doctor will ask you how you got injured. The doctor can do a physical test to find out which ligament is damaged. During the test, the doctor can move your ankle joint in different directions. Apart from this, some types of imaging tests can also be done to test the sprain of the foot, such as:

X-ray:
With the help of this test, the sprain of the foot is checked. Apart from this, if the bone is broken during the injury, then it can also be detected with the help of an X-ray test. 

MRI Scan:
If your doctor feels that the bone of your foot is broken, then he can also advise you to get an MRI scan. If there is a serious injury to the ligaments or the outer layer of the ankle joint is injured, then it can also be detected with the help of MRI scan. In the MRI process, powerful magnetic and radio rays are used, with the help of which very clear pictures are obtained. With the help of this, doctors are able to test well. 

CT Scan:
With the help of this test, a lot of information related to bones and their joints can be obtained. In CT scan technique, X-ray process is used and different directions are used. Pictures of the affected area are taken.

Ultrasound:
With ultrasound scan, pictures of the inner part of the ankle are taken. With the help of these pictures, the doctor is able to find out the condition of ligaments and tendons.

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How To Prevent Sprained Ankles?

• With the help of the following measures, sprained ankle or recurrent sprain related problems can be prevented:
• Wear shoes that fit your feet perfectly and are also suitable for your physical activity. 
• Do not wear sandals with high heels or try to wear them as little as possible.
• Keep the muscles around your ankle strong and flexible.
• Do stability training, which also includes balance exercises.
• Warm up before exercising or playing any sport. 
• Walk or run carefully on uneven ground.
• Do not participate in any activity or sport that you are not comfortable with.

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How is sprained ankle treated?

Initial treatment of ankle sprain may include the following measures:

• Do not walk and rest your ankle.
• Ice should be applied for 20 to 30 minutes continuously and at least 3-4 times a day to reduce swelling. Ice should always be applied to the skin after wrapping it in a cloth, it should never be applied directly on the skin.
• Tie the affected ankle with a bandage so that the damaged ankle cannot move.
• The ankle should be kept above the heart level as long as possible in the first 48 hours of swelling.

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If the sprain is not severe, it will usually heal within the first 48 hours and you will be able to resume your daily activities. If the sprain is moderate or severe, it may require a longer treatment period, usually a week or more.

Operation:
In very rare cases, an operation is required to treat an ankle sprain. Ankle surgery is usually performed when the ligaments are severely damaged or the affected ankle seems exceptionally unstable. Ankle surgery may also be performed if it is difficult to treat the sprain without surgery. Surgical treatments may include the following:

• Arthroscopy:

During this procedure, the surgeon (doctor performing the surgery) looks inside the joint and locates the bone or ligament fragment. 

• Reconstruction:

In reconstruction surgery, the surgeon repairs the damaged ligament by stitching it. Apart from this, they can also use other ligaments or tendons around the leg to treat the damaged ligament. 

After the operation, rehabilitation is an important part of recovery. The doctor may call you several times after the operation. The doctor does physical therapy, with the help of which the muscles around your ankle become stronger and their flexibility increases.

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What problems can occur due to ankle sprain?

If the foot or ankle is severely sprained, several complications may develop such as:

Long-term pain:
Long-term pain is the most common complication of ankle sprain. 

Stiffness:
This is also a common complication of foot sprain that usually develops as a result of excessive swelling in the ankle. Due to this, the affected ankle is unable to move completely. 

Nerve disorders:
If the ankle is severely twisted, it may result in damage to the nerves in the affected part. Nerve disorders may cause numbness or severe pain and weakness in the affected part. 

Swelling:
The affected ankle may swell severely. 

Arthritis:
Due to sprained foot, the affected ankle joint may also swell. 

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A sprain is a common injury that occurs when the tendons or ligaments of the foot are stretched or torn. This is usually caused by sudden or extreme stress, such as during sports activities or a fall. In the case of a sprain, a person may experience pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. Treatment may include rest, ice packs, and the use of pain medications. In severe cases, medical advice and treatment may be needed. Most sprains heal quickly with proper care and treatment, but it does require rest and care.