Your ankle, one of the most important joints for getting and staying upright, has just three primary bones (the tibia, fibula, and talus) and despite our constant need to use it, it’s known to be precarious due to its anatomical structure. Ankle injuries account for 20% of all sports-related injuries annually, making them the most common of their type in the United States.
However, if you find yourself dealing with ankle injuries, such as sprains, on a regular basis, there may be some underlying problems that need addressing. Let’s review what happens to your ankle when it gets sprained, the causes of chronic sprains, and some ways to prevent and treat them.
Shrewsbury, Toms River, and Wall Township, New Jersey, residents struggling with ankle problems like sprains can find help with Dr. David Dickerson and our experienced team at Performance Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.
Sprains indicate damage to your ligaments, specifically they refer to stretching or tearing of ligaments in joints that make it harder for them to perform their function and often cause pain and other symptoms. Ligaments, along with tendons and muscles, keep joints in their normal position and help them function properly.
When this happens in your ankles, it frequently stems from twisting into an awkward position during falls, slips, landing wrong after a jump, or sports-related damage. The extent of the ligament damage is measured in grades, and typical symptoms include pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, and stiffness.
Sadly, recurrence of ankle sprains is very common, with as many as 40% of people dealing with sprains having long-term problems and repeated issues after the first one. This can occur for different reasons, including:
Stretching or tearing any of the musculoskeletal tissue in the ankle can weaken them and make you less steady, making it easier for injuries to happen again.
The ability to sense things around you without directly seeing them is known as proprioception, and it’s why you can walk without having to look at your feet all the time. The damage from sprains over time can make sensing things as you walk more difficult, leading to further injury.
If the joint heals improperly, you risk losing mobility in the joint, which can lead to more injuries in the future.
How we deal with your ankle sprain depends on the grade, and we can treat it using several approaches. Bandages, sports tape, or braces can keep the ankle stable as it heals, crutches can help you avoid putting too much weight on it, and over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications can reduce pain.
If the sprain is too severe, surgery may be necessary to repair and reposition the ligaments. In each case, treatment will be followed by physical therapy to restore normal movement and strength in the joint.
Ankle sprains are common and can have lasting effects, but they can be repaired and we can help. Call 732-691-4898 or use online booking to make an appointment with Dr. Dickerson and the Performance Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine team today to get back on your feet.
