The most common cause of ankle sprain is where a sudden impact force or uneven floor surface causes you to roll your ankle outwards, damaging the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. Early treatment of this injury is critical to recovery time.
A sprain is a stretching or tearing of ligaments – the thick, fibrous tissue that connects bones together and holds joints in place.
The usual symptoms associated with an ankle sprain are pain, swelling and bruising.
The best way to treat an ankle sprain is quickly. Every minute delayed with treatment increases the recovery time. A minor sprain to your ankle will usually heal itself within a few days, more serious cases may take a few weeks. In severe cases physiotherapy treatment will usually be recommended by your doctor.
As soon as you can follow the PRICE principles:
Protection: protect the ankle from further injury
Rest: stop any activity and avoid any further activity for 48 – 72 hours
Ice: apply ice to the injured area for 10 – 15 minutes every 2 – 3 hours during the day. Do not allow the ice to touch the bare skin, and do not leave the ice on whilst sleeping as these may cause a cold burn.
Compression: compress the injured area to limit the amount of swelling and any movement that may create further damage. Use a crepe, elastic or tubular bandage but be careful not to over tighten it – it should be tight but not so tight as to restrict your circulation. Remove the bandage before you go to sleep.
Elevation: keep the injured area raised up and supported to help with the reduction of swelling.
You also need to keep the ankle mobile, not to the point of unbearable pain.
In addition to the ligament damage, there may also be associated tendon and other soft tissue damage, which is why it is always a good idea to get a professional diagnosis of your injury.
An ankle sprain occurring on the inside of the ankle is rare and is generally associated with a fracture of the leg.
A severely sprained ankle