Ankle Sprains

An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments connecting the foot and ankle bones together overstretch or tear. Athletes, especially, are at a higher risk of experiencing these types of injuries due to the amount of twists, turns, jumps, and sudden starts and stops that are often associated with participating in sports activities.

Whenever your foot lands off-balance by a sideways motion or misstep, the muscles in your feet can give way and allow the ankle to move further than its ligaments and tendons are meant to. And these sudden injuries can cause pain – both as they occur and throughout the healing process that follows. In severe cases, swelling and bruising may even spread further into the foot.

The reality is that a lot of stress is put on your ankles on a daily basis. Things like overtraining, a simple misstep, or colliding with other players can all result in a painful ankle sprain. Even a minor twist may cause you to feel a sharp, sudden pain and weakness in your ankle. And what often follows is swelling and bruising around the area, as well as pain and difficulty bearing weight.

Whether you are a morning jogger or a weekend warrior, an ankle sprain can keep you sidelined and away from doing the things you love. But the good news is that our team of experts here at Kalamazoo Podiatry can help you recover from this painful injury and give you some pointers on how to prevent it from happening to you again in the future.

Whenever you experience an ankle sprain, you should seek appropriate treatment immediately. But while you wait to be examined, there are definitely some measures you can take at home to reduce pain and discomfort.

First, stop whatever activity you are engaged in – even a mild sprain can worsen significantly if you continue to bear weight or keep pushing through the pain. Without adequate rest and treatment, the damaged tissues will not heal properly and could result in a chronically weakened ankle that is at risk for re-injury.

Keep your foot elevated and take anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce swelling. Icing the area is also very important – but keep in mind to never apply ice directly to your skin, use a towel for protection. Finally, wrap the injured foot or wear a brace to promote better stability while the joints begin to heal.   

You should keep in mind that although ankle sprains may seem like a simple injury, they can result in significant chronic pain and ankle weakness when not treated the correctly. If you are a sports fanatic, don’t push through the pain – instead, deal with the situation right away and using proper first aid techniques. In doing so, you will find relief faster and avoid future complications.