Medial ankle sprains cause damage to the set of ligaments that keep your foot from rolling outward. A forceful, upward movement of the foot and ankle causes this type of ankle sprain. Ankle sprain causes and risk factors Ankle sprains can occur for many reasons.
Some common causes of ankle sprains include: Wearing the wrong type of shoes for your sport. This puts you at risk of twisting your ankle or even falling. Placing unusual stress to the ligament. This could be from walking or running on an uneven surface, jamming your foot, or twisting your ankle in an odd way. Ankle sprain complications Without proper diagnosis, treatment, and care, an ankle sprain can impede your ability to walk and do other routine activities.
Learn more about ankle sprains The links below will open a new browser window. Twisted ankle symptoms include bruising. The ankle may also feel warm to the touch. Talking to your doctor about your pain and its location will help with your diagnosis.
Make an appointment for ankle sprain symptoms and diagnosis A UPMC Sports Medicine expert can help diagnose and manage the symptoms of an ankle sprain. Learn more about ankle sprain symptoms and tests The links below will open a new browser window.
Other ankle sprain treatments for athletes and non-athletes may include: Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or acetaminophen. Strengthening, stretching, and balancing exercises. Working with a physical therapist or your coach to improve your movements. If the force is great enough, there is also damage to the ligaments spanning the lower leg bones — the tibia and fibula.
In addition, these sprains result in significantly more lost time from sports due to the nature of the damage that occurs. High ankle sprains have been theorized to occur, at least in part, as a result of the increased traction provided by artificial turf fields as well as the lighter, more flexible cleats that players now use.
High ankle sprains are reliably diagnosed by sports medicine specialists through careful attention to the history, examination, and imaging studies. A thorough physical examination specifically isolating the ligaments suspected of being injured is imperative. Unfortunately, the physical examination is often nonspecific, especially immediately following the injury.
Radiographic studies, such as plain x-rays, are usually normal in terms of showing the normal relationship between the tibia and fibula Figure 1. However, if the injuring force is great enough, there may be separation of these bones which allows an abnormal shift of the ankle joint Figure 2.
This can lead to chronic stiffness, pain, and ultimately arthritis of the ankle joint. Magnetic resonance imaging MRI may also be used to show more subtle signs of injury as well as to rule out other damaged soft-tissue structures such as ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
The vast majority of high ankle sprains are treated conservatively non-operatively with splinting of the ankle to reduce motion of the painful joint. Elevation and icing to the ankle is helpful to reduce swelling. There is typically a period of immobilization following surgery for an ankle sprain. Your doctor may apply a cast or protective boot to protect the repaired or reconstructed ligament.
Rehabilitation after surgery involves time and attention to restore strength and range of motion so you can return to pre-injury function. The length of time you can expect to spend recovering depends upon the extent of injury and the amount of surgery that was done.
Rehabilitation may take from weeks to months. Outcomes for ankle sprains are generally quite good. With proper treatment, most patients are able to resume their day-to-day activities after a period of time. Most importantly, successful outcomes are dependent upon patient commitment to rehabilitation exercises.
Incomplete rehabilitation is the most common cause of chronic ankle instability after a sprain. If a patient stops doing the strengthening exercises, the injured ligament s will weaken and put the patient at risk for continued ankle sprains. Once you have sprained your ankle, you may continue to sprain it if the ligaments do not have time to completely heal.
It can be hard for patients to tell if a sprain has healed because even an ankle with a chronic tear can be highly functional because overlying tendons help with stability and motion. If pain continues for more than 4 to 6 weeks, you may have a chronic ankle sprain. Activities that tend to make an already sprained ankle worse include stepping on uneven surfaces and participating in sports that require cutting actions or rolling and twisting of the foot.
Abnormal proprioception—a common complication of ankle sprains—can also lead to repeat sprains. There may be imbalance and muscle weakness that causes a reinjury. If you sprain your ankle over and over again, a chronic situation may persist with instability, a sense of the ankle giving way, and chronic pain. This can also happen if you return to work, sports, or other activities before your ankle heals and is rehabilitated.
The best way to prevent ankle sprains is to maintain good muscle strength, balance, and flexibility. The following precautions will help prevent sprains:. BoulderCentre can help. Call us and ask to see one of our foot and ankle specialists.
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Skip to main content. Anatomy of an ankle sprain. One of the most common knee injuries is an anterior cruciate ligament sprain or tear. Anatomy of an Ankle Sprain An ankle sprain occurs when the strong ligaments that support the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear. Cause Your foot can twist unexpectedly during many different activities, such as: Walking or exercising on an uneven surface Falling down Participating in sports that require cutting actions or rolling and twisting of the foot—such as trail running, basketball, tennis, football, and soccer During sports activities, someone else may step on your foot while you are running, causing your foot to twist or roll to the side.
Symptoms A sprained ankle is painful. Your doctor will gently press around the ankle to determine which ligaments are injured. Range of motion. He or she may also move your ankle in different directions; however, a stiff, swollen ankle usually will not move much. If there is no broken bone, your doctor may be able to tell the severity of your ankle sprain based upon the amount of swelling, pain, and bruising. Imagine Tests X-rays. Grade 1 Sprain Mild Slight stretching and microscopic tearing of the ligament fibers Mild tenderness and swelling around the ankle Grade 2 Sprain Moderate Partial tearing of the ligament Moderate tenderness and swelling around the ankle If the doctor moves the ankle in certain ways, there is an abnormal looseness of the ankle joint Grade 3 Sprain Severe Complete tear of the ligament Significant tenderness and swelling around the ankle If the doctor pulls or pushes on the ankle joint in certain movements, substantial instability occurs In a Grade 2 sprain, some but not all of the ligament fibers are torn.
A three-phase program guides treatment for all ankle sprains—from mild to severe: Phase 1 includes resting, protecting the ankle and reducing the swelling. Phase 2 includes restoring range of motion, strength and flexibility. Phase 3 includes maintenance exercises and the gradual return to activities that do not require turning or twisting the ankle.
This will be followed later by being able to do activities that require sharp, sudden turns cutting activities —such as tennis, basketball, or football. Home Treatments For milder sprains, your doctor may recommend simple home treatment.
The RICE protocol.
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