It is not unusual for walkers and sports person at sometime
or other to suffer with a 'Sprained ankle' . It can be a very painful
experience and can significantly affect a patient’s lifestyle. It is the result
of the ankle twisting and causing damage to the soft tissues and ligaments.The
anterior talofibular ligament is one of the most commonly involved ligaments.
Sprains to the lateral aspect of the ankle account for 85% of ankle sprains. A
ligament consists of several strands of tissue all compacted together to form a
strong structure, not dissimilar to a rope.
An ankle sprain or A
lateral ankle sprain may result in a partial or complete tear of a ligament,
which stabilizes the ankle joint.
Once the ligament is
torn, it becomes weak which in turn affects ankle stability and the weakness
may well manifest itself many years later in life so it is far better to take
all necessary precautions to prevent it occurring in the first place.
Which is no more than common senseThe degree in which the
ankle stability is affected is dependent upon the level of the tear. When an
ankle sprain occurs, it may well be caused by a walker stepping on a large
stone or perhaps twisting the ankle when walking over a hole. Perhaps one made
by a rabbit for instance.
This is then followed immediately by a sharp pain on the
outside of the ankle. This type of injury is called Acute Pain. An audible
"pop" or "snap" may accompany the injury, which sometimes
signals a rupture of the ligament.
If the walker is
still able to walk on the injured ankle, the likelihood of a serious injury is
less, but walking should be discontinued.
Shoes should be kept on until examination and treatment.
I have to say that in
the past on more than one occasion i have twisted my ankle in a very
painful way and i have had to continue walking for a few
miles until i could get to transport but i have found that i have been able to
walk the injury off
to a greater extent and all the treatment that i needed was
the good old RICE (Rest Ice Compression and Elevation) and i was soon back to
normal.
( i didn't say that I was normal.
The painful ankle will possible have some bruising that will
show in a day or so and this is due to ruptured blood vessels.Chronic ankle
Pain
is normally a result
of an overuse injury particularly if no specific traumatic event has occurred
these can be
divided into the
following
Posterior ankle pain is often associated with the achilles
Medial ankle pain is that on the inside of the ankle and can be caused by a
combination of stress on the tendons and nerves passing
through this region.Lateral ankle pain occurs on the outside
of the ankle Anterior ankle pain is characterised by pain at the front of the
ankle extending into the foot and is associated with over walking
Should you be unfortunate enough to experience an injury of
the ankle these are a few suggeation i have compiled to help you.
Apply
ice to the area straight away or if you have an ice spray so beloved by the
sports physios.
Do not
follow any other treatment regimes until a diagnosis is confirmed by a doctor.
• The
R.I.C.E theory should be used, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
• The
recovery time is usually between 3-7 weeks; however; the swelling may last for
a few months or even never return to normal.
• In severe
cases surgery may be necessary to repair tendons around the ankle joint.
• Sports
orthotics and Insoles can provide stability and control in order to prevent
future occurrences of an ankle sprain.
You may
need x-rays depending on the severity of the ankle sprainReturn to the top of
Ankle Sprain pageGo to Foot Conditions Home pageVisit Foot Pronation pageRead
about Heel SpursWatch out for those BlistersSupport your ankles with correctly
fitting Boots.
No comments:
Post a Comment