Have you ever twisted or “rolled” your ankle? If so, you might have experienced an ankle sprain! Ankle sprains are really common, especially in sports, and in the United States, about 23,000 people sprain their ankles every day. Most sprains happen when the ligaments on the outside of your ankle get stretched too far or torn. These ligaments help keep your ankle stable and allow you to move it properly.So, what happens when you twist your ankle? The ligaments around the ankle get stretched too far, and sometimes, they tear. This can make it hard for your muscles to move your ankle like they should. When the ligaments and muscles aren’t working well, your brain can’t “sense” where your ankle is, which is important for balancing and walking. This can make your ankle feel unstable, and you might hurt it again if you don’t treat it properly.
Doctors can figure out if you have an ankle sprain by checking how your ankle looks and sometimes taking an X-ray to make sure the bones aren’t broken. Ankle sprains can be mild (Grade 1), moderate (Grade 2), or severe (Grade 3), depending on how much the ligaments are stretched or torn.
- Grade 1: A little stretching, mild swelling, and pain. Healing might take up to 2 weeks.
- Grade 2: Some tearing of ligaments, moderate swelling, and pain. It can take 2-3 weeks to heal.
- Grade 3: A complete tear of the ligaments, with severe swelling and pain. Healing could take 12 weeks or more.
If someone has a sprained ankle, they might limp and feel pain when moving it. The ankle may also be swollen, bruised, stiff, or unstable.
At Physical Therapy Associates of South Florida, located in Tamarac, Florida, we have extensive experience in treating ankle sprains. Our expert therapists will help you heal with special treatments to speed up recovery. For example, they might:
- Move the ankle joint to help it heal
- Use a laser to encourage faster recovery
- Use a machine that helps muscles work better while you do exercises in water
We’ll also show you how to take care of your ankle at home. You’ll learn how to:
- Use an ankle brace for support
- Apply ice and elevate your ankle to reduce swelling
- Walk with crutches if needed
Your therapist might also use tape on your ankle to help keep it stable after your appointment.
It’s important to treat an ankle sprain properly because if you don’t, it can cause more problems down the road. Untreated ankle injuries can lead to knee pain, because you may change the way you walk to avoid putting pressure on your hurt ankle. This can put extra stress on your knees. Over time, this can also lead to back pain as your body tries to compensate for the injury. Treating an ankle sprain early can help prevent these other issues from developing.
If you’ve sprained your ankle, Physical Therapy Associates of South Florida in Tamarac is here to help! We have a lot of experience treating ankle sprains and can help you recover quickly and safely. Contact us today to make an appointment!