Ankle Sprains

What is an Ankle Sprain?

An ankle sprain is defined as the strain or damage to the inside or outside ligaments of the ankle. Spraining of the ligaments surrounding the ankle is often caused by rolling the ankle – often experienced during running, jumping or landing.

An ankle sprain can occasionally become more serious with damage to bone.

Symptoms

An ankle sprain will often present with redness, swelling and bruising around the ankle joint. People who sprain their ankle will often report difficulty putting any pressure on their foot when standing or walking.

Causes

Ankle sprains are often caused by incidental occasions, including standing or landing on an uneven surface. Occasionally ankle sprains can be predicted due to the lower limb biomechanics (the way we walk and run) in association with muscle weakness.

Our Senior Podiatrist Jarrod McGuinness Discusses Ankle Sprains

The most common causes include:

Biomechanical factors (running or landing technique)
Muscle weakness
Improper footwear
A previous ankle sprain in the last 6 months

Treatment

One of the most important aspects of ankle sprain management is the prevention. Podiatrists have the ability to assess the lower limb and determine whether someone is at risk of having an ankle sprain. At Elite Foot Care we have a range of treatments to help manage ankle sprains, including:

Strapping and padding
Moon boots to offload severe ankle sprains
Orthotics to improve walking and running mechanics
Shockwave therapy
Dry needling

An incidental ankle sprain can often lead to a history of recurrent injury. It is pivotal to have a thorough exercise rehabilitation to prevent the reoccurrence and keep you moving for longer.