Overview – An ankle sprain occurs when you stretch/tear the ligaments in the ankle. Sometimes they are referred to as "rolling the ankle" because the ankle often buckles and moves outward. Afterward the ankle becomes very painful and can swell considerably. It should be noted that an audible "pop" is often heard during the injury.
Symptoms – Intense pain followed by swelling, difficulty weight bearing, bruising/discoloration(usually delayed), instability, decreased range of motion
Cause – The ligaments in your ankle keep the bones together. A sprain occurs when these ligaments are stretched beyond their normal limits. Sprains are graded according to severtiy below:
Grade 1 Sprain: Slight stretching and some damage to the fibers of the ligament.
Grade 2 Sprain: Partial tearing of the ligament. Laxity of the ankle joint.
Grade 3 Sprain: Complete tear of the ligament. Gross instability. This is a surgical candidate.
Treatment options – Immobilization, rest, compression, myofascial release, stretching, Ice, therapy modalities, manipulation, medication, rehabilitation exercises, possible surgery
Chronic Sprains - Ligaments can take much longer to recover from an injury than muscle. It is important not to rush back to a sport until a full recovery has been attained. If an injury is does not heal properly it can fall into a state of limbo referred to as a chronic injury. These are injuries that linger and never seem to get better!
