What are the symptoms of an ankle sprain?
You could experience pain on either side of your ankle, on the top of the ankle or even tenderness to touch around the ankle. Your ankle may appear swollen or bruising may appear. You may experience pain on uneven surfaces, with stairs, with walking for long periods or attempting to jog.
An ankle sprain occurs when one or more of the ligaments in the ankle are over-stretched or even torn. There are varying degrees of ankle sprains which can be diagnosed by a physician.
How to Treat an Acute Sprain:
Protection: Many braces are available over the counter to help support the ankle while it is unstable. Simply stepping off a curb may re-injure an unstable ankle.
Rest: Stay off of the ankle as much as possible for the first 24-48 hours. You may want to rent crutches from a local drugstore if you must be mobile.
Ice: It is important to reduce the swelling by applying cold treatments. You may use a cold pack from the store or a bag of frozen corn or peas conform well around the ankle and can be re-frozen for re-application. You should apply ice 10-15 mins and may ice as frequently as every hour.
Compression: It will be useful to wrap the ankle with an ace wrap or compression sleeve to reduce swelling.
Elevation: Try to elevate the foot above the heart to aid in reducing swelling.
Exercises for the acute sprain:
Simply trying to maintain motion in the ankle is very important initially. Gently point your foot up and down holding 10 sec in each position. Next, gently turn your foot inward and outward holding 10 sec in each position. Repeat 5-10 times several times per day and follow with an ice treatment of 10-15 mins.
**If your symptoms persist more than 1-2 weeks, seek medical treatment from a physician and you may request physical therapy at that time.
Why is physical therapy important?
An ankle sprain even in its mildest form can leave the ankle weak and unstable. Without proper strengthening, it is very likely you may re-strain the ankle with something as common as stepping off a curb. Physical Therapists will provide an evaluation and determine a personalized treatment program which may include whirlpools, ultrasound treatments, stretching, and strengthening regime for return to your previous fitness level.
