An ankle sprain often happens suddenly. A stumble, a slip and fall, a sports injury, exercise, and even walking can bring about this common type of foot injury. Sprains are caused when the ligaments around your foot and lower leg tear or stretch too much. When this happens, you may experience pain, swelling, and difficulty walking.
The skilled podiatrist at Central Kansas Podiatry Associates, Dr. Benjamin Weaver, knows that many patients don’t believe a sprain is serious; however, it can be. Depending on the severity of the injury, it might take a full six months to recover. He knows that it’s important to see a podiatrist to help ensure your sprain heals properly. Here, he discusses the dos and don’ts after you’ve suffered an ankle sprain so you can get back on your feet and to the activities you enjoy.
Ankle Sprain Classifications
Your ankle is made up of two joints and many tendons, muscles, and ligaments. If you roll your ankle or foot, twisting or turning it in an awkward way, the tendons and ligaments can be injured, resulting in a sprain. The severity of the sprain is determined by the degree to which the ligaments were stretched or torn, and this will impact the time it will take you to recover. Sprains are classified into three grades that help podiatrists determine the severity of the injury:
- A grade 1 classification means you have minimal stretching of the ligaments and no tearing. You may experience tenderness, mild pain, and some swelling, but typically there is no bruising. You likely won’t have problems bearing weight on your foot and ankle, and there should be no joint instability.
- A grade 2 classification means you have a partial tear. You will likely experience a higher level of pain, swelling, and tenderness, and there may be bruising. You will also likely feel pain when you bear weight and walk. Additionally, you may have mild to moderate instability in the joint, and there could be some loss of motion and function.
- A grade 3 classification means there is a full tear or rupture of the ligament. There will likely be joint instability and loss of range of motion and function. You may be unable to bear weight or walk on your foot at all, and you may need crutches.
Ankle Sprains: Dos and Don’ts for a Better Recovery
There are steps you can take to help ensure the fastest and healthiest recovery possible when you sprain your ankle. Here, Dr. Weaver offers some dos and don’ts when you suffer an ankle sprain:
Don’ts
- Never ignore your injury, and don’t try to walk it off. When you continue normal activities or minimize your pain, you can risk further damage to your ankle.
- Don’t apply heat in the first 72 hours. It’s important to reduce swelling during this time, and heat increases blood flow, which can worsen swelling.
- Don’t return to your activities too quickly. When your ligaments haven’t healed fully, returning to the sport that caused the injury too soon or participating fully in your daily activities can re-injure your ankle.
- Don’t wait to contact a Wichita podiatrist to discuss your ankle sprain.
Dos
- In the first 24 – 48 hours, rest your ankle as much as possible—especially if you have severe pain and swelling. To help with swelling, immerse your foot and ankle in cold water or apply an ice pack. A podiatrist can recommend the appropriate amount of time to do this.
- In the first 24 hours, avoid activities that could increase swelling—and especially avoid using anything that involves heat, such as heating pad, hot packs, or hot showers.
- Because you want to protect the ligaments and decrease the pain and swelling, you should use the RICE method:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
- Contact Dr. Weaver at Central Kansas Podiatry Associates if:
-
- Your injury isn’t improving
- You’re suffering serious pain and swelling
- Your ankle feels numb
- You can’t bear weight on your foot
- Wear proper footwear. When you’re recovering, supportive shoes help stabilize your ankle.
- Help strengthen your ankle with range-of-motion exercises. With the approval of your podiatrist, you can often begin these exercises within the first 48 hours. Typically, you begin by doing these exercises seated on a chair and then progress to standing exercises. Your stretching and strengthening exercises may include:
- Flexes
- The ankle alphabet
- The press down, pull back
- Ankle eversion and inversion
- Rises
Our podiatric team can help you understand these exercises, so you can perform them at the right time and the right way per your specific ankle sprain.
When to See a Wichita Podiatrist
Depending on the severity of your ankle sprain, you may not need to see a podiatrist. However, when you work with our skilled foot doctor, you can receive an early and accurate diagnosis. Because each ankle sprain is different and can range in grade level severity, it’s important to know the classification of yours. When you injure your foot or ankle, talk to Dr. Weaver. Read our testimonials to learn what we’ve done for patients like you.