Dear Valued Patients;

One of the most common musculoskeletal injuries is the ankle sprain. The most common type occurs when you roll the outside of your foot, such that the bottom of the foot faces the opposite side of the body. This puts an abnormal stretch on the soft tissues, specifically the ligaments, on the outside of the foot and ankle. Depending on the degree or severity of the sprain, it may result in mild pain with motion, up to and including the loss of the ability to walk. Sometimes the sprain is accompanied by a broken bone. This is why it is important to have x-ray imaging performed. There is no rule whereby if you can walk, then it's not broken. The only way to tell if a fracture is present is with an x-ray.

Pain, swelling and black and blue discoloration are the most obvious signs. If you have more than mild symptoms, then the ankle needs to be immobilized. This allows the ligaments to heal. Constant movement will delay healing and prolong pain and swelling. Immobilization may be achieved with a splint or wrapping for mild sprains, or a walking boot for more severe sprains. In addition, icing for the first 24 hours, elevation and anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen will help lessen swelling and inflammation. Pain and swelling is a normal response to injury, but may last for months if not addressed soon after injury. In our office, we offer several therapy modalities to help you recover from injury and get you on your feet again.

Ankle sprains are notoriously under treated. For an estimated 40 percent of people, failure to appropriately treat a sprain may result in chronic instability, characterized by repeated rolling of the ankle. Frequent sprains may damage the nerves to the ankle, causing a loss of the feedback system which brings the ankle back to a neutral position on uneven surfaces.

A recent meta-analysis of 14 controlled trials found that exercise was the most effective means of reducing repeated sprains.