What are Ankle Sprains?

A very painful and inconvenient experienceAn Ankle sprains is a common walking and sporting injury to one or more ligaments in the ankle.  It can be a very painful experience and can significantly affect a patient’s lifestyle. It usually occurs on the outside of the ankle. Ligaments are bands of tissue not unlike rubber bands bound together to make a rope that connect one bone to another and bind the joints together. They are found in all of the body joints not just In the ankle joint, ligaments provide stability by limiting side-to-side movement.What would cause an ankle to sprain?
The most propable cause for walkers is a sudden twist that forces the ankle joint out of its normal position. They can also result from a fall, a or a blowto the joint Ankle sprains commonly occur while participating in sports, wearing inappropriate shoes, or walking or running on an uneven surface. Hence the need for specialist walking boots or shoes when walking seriously.Sometimes ankle sprains occur because of weak ankles, a condition that some people are born with. If you have previously suffered an ankle or foot injurie this will, in all probability also weaken the ankle and lead to sprains.The signs and symptoms of ankle sprains may include:•           Pain or soreness •           Swelling •            Bruising •            Difficulty walking •           Stiffness in the joint These symptoms may vary in intensity, depending on the severity of the sprain. Sometimes pain and swelling are absent in people with previous ankle sprains—instead, they may simply feel the ankle is wobbly and unsteady when they walk.The ankle joint is composed of two bones from the lower leg (tibia and fibula) and one bone from the foot (talus)  The stability of the ankle joint when standing is provided by the alignment of these bones . These bones are held together by ligaments on either side. These ligaments provide further stability by resisting abnormal movements of the ankle joint—particularly when the foot is not firmly planted on the groundIf you think that you do have a Sprained Ankle whether or not it is swollen resort to the good old stand by, RICE. (Rest Ice Compress and Elevate. It is far better and safer to treat the ankle,or anyother suspected injury for that matter, sooner rather than later. Any injury left un-treatedmay well result in prolonged periods of inactivity which is not what any of us want. So, whether it’s your first or your fifth sprain it requires prompt medical attention treatment is crucial so that we can continue enjoying our walksIf you think you’ve sprained your ankle, do contact a medically qualified physician as soon as possible. But in the meantime, immediately begin using the “R.I.C.E.” method to help reduce swelling, pain, and further injury or even use the  PRICE protocol – protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation.When you do carry out the RICEing Icing. You may be advised to ice your injury several times a day until the pain and swelling resolves. Wrap  ice cubes, or even a bag of frozen peas/corn in a thin towel. Do not put ice directly on your skin. As for Compression. To prevent further swelling keep your ankle wrapped in an elastic bandage or stocking.On a foot note for your interest, it has been found that traditionally, many athletes trying to help protect themselves from injury have used ankle taping. Although taping offers some protection, studies have shown that support breakdown can occur quickly. One study showed that 40 percent of tape support was lost after 10 minutes; therefore, we recommend the use of ankle braces to counter the forces being placed on the ankle.Return to Foot ConditionsHome PageAnkle SprainReturn to top of Ankle Sprainsblisters Read all about it!They are painful so learn all about them Heel SpursDo you suffer with High Arches?