Ankle Sprain

Some people may not think ankle sprains are that serious. However, sprains need to be promptly evaluated and treated by highly competent orthopedic specialists like those at Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Sprains untreated or not adequately rehabilitated, or repeat injuries all can cause chronic instability—a condition marked by persistent discomfort and a giving way of the ankle from stretched or torn ligaments. Weakness in the leg may develop and a more severe ankle injury may have occurred along with the sprain. Don’t wait until the injury worsens. Advanced Orthopedics is the place to start.

OVERVIEW

All it takes is a simple step and suddenly an ankle sprain happens. Some 25,000 people a day get ankle sprains. Acute ankle sprain is the most common lower limb injury in athletes and accounts for 16-40% of all sports-related injuries. The injury occurs when one or more of the ligaments in the ankle are stretched or torn., causing pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. The most common ankle sprain occurs on the lateral (outside) of the ankle. Many people try to tough out an ankle sprain often saying, “If I can walk on my ankle, nothing is wrong.”  They don’t seek injury which is the worst decision they could make.

ABOUT THE ANKLE

The ankle is the joint that connects the foot to the lower leg. Healthcare providers sometimes refer to it as the tibiotalar joint or the talocrural joint. It is formed by the tibia (shinbone which is the larger and stronger of the two leg bones), fibula (the smaller bone that runs parallel to the tibia, and the talus (foot). Functionally, the ankle is a hinge joint that allows it to move in two directions: plantar flexion: down and away from the body, and dorsiflexion: up, toward the body. The ankles are made of an intricate network of ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves working in harmony to facilitate movement and function. The ankle is a synovial joint. Synovial joints have the most freedom to move. Slippery cartilage covers the ends of bones that make up a synovial joint. A synovial membrane—a fluid-filled sac that lubricates and protects the joint—lines the space between the bones. This extra cushioning helps synovial joints move with as little friction as possible.

WHAT IS ANKLE SPRAIN?

When an ankle twists, turns, or rolls awkwardly, it can stretch or tear the ligaments that support the ankle. Commonly—as much as 90% of the time—an injury to ankle ligaments results from an inversion sprain. This is where the foot turns inward, and the ligaments on the outside of the ankle stretch beyond a normal range of motion. These are the anterior talofibular ligaments, the calcaneofibular ligaments, and the posterior talofibular ligaments—all can be injured at the same time. And each can stretch or tear to differing degrees than the others.

Doctors usually follow a three-step grading system:

• Grade 1: grade 1 ankle sprain is the mildest. It occurs when the ligament has been slightly stretched with no tears. Often it only includes mild pain, swelling, and tenderness. The injured person can still easily bear weight and remain stable on their feet.
• Grade 2: this type of sprain usually results from a partial tear of the ligament. It can make it difficult for a patient to bear weight on their ankle without pain resulting in compromised mild to moderate joint instability, and some loss of range of motion
• Grade 3: full rupture or tear of the ligament. Along with severe pain, tenderness, bruising, and swelling, bearing weight becomes quite difficult and stability is often severely impacted by the lack of ligament strength.

A high ankle sprain vs. low ankle sprain refers to not only the ligaments involved but also the movement of the ankle that caused the injury. A high ankle sprain is an external rotation injury that injures the connection of the fibula and tibia bone in your ankle (syndesmosis). It can occur during athletic activity particularly when the ankle gets caught and the body twists around the ankle. This injury can often also hurt near the knee joint.

Read more about Ankle Sprains on our new Colorado Springs Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Springs Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with an ankle specialist today.