An ankle sprain may result when you move or land your foot abnormally or when your ankle twists or turns in an abnormal position or in an awkward way when you place your foot on a surface. The surface can be ground, or a step, or a staircase. In this case, ligaments are forced to stretch beyond their normal range of motion

What are the causes of an ankle sprain?

Causes of a sprained ankle

• Performing activities, exercising, or walking on an uneven surface
• Abnormal jumping, pivoting, or awkwardly landing on your foot
• A sudden ankle twist due to a fall
• During a sports activity, stepping or landing on an uneven surface
• Twisting of the ankle due to another person landing or stepping on your foot

What are the symptoms of an ankle sprain?

An ankle sprain varies in severity depending on the extent of the sprain or injury. Therefore, signs and symptoms also vary accordingly and include:

• Bruising
• Swelling
• Tenderness and feeling of warmth to touch
• Pain in the affected foot especially when you bear weight
• Popping sound or sensation during the time of injury
• Ankle instability and weakness
• Restricted ankle movement

What are the risk factors for sprained ankles?

The following factors may increase the risk of a sprained ankle:

Poor flexibility and strength in the ankle due to poor physical condition may increase the risk of a sprain if a person wants to participate in any sporting event or act.

Ankle injury – a prior ankle injury may increase the risk of injuring the ankle again or make a person prone to another type of ankle injury.

Walking or running on uneven surfaces or bad conditions on the playground or field may increase the risk of an ankle injury or sprain.

Bad footwear or improper sporting shoes – inappropriate shoes for an activity or shoes that don’t fit properly; sandals and shoes having high heels can increase the risk of injury or spraining the ankles.

Sports such as football, tennis, basketball, trail running, and soccer that require abrupt and sudden twisting movement of the foot can increase the risk of ankle injury or sprains. In addition, sporting activities that require rolling, cutting action, and jumping can also make a person prone to ankle sprains.

What happens if you don’t treat an ankle sprain?

If you don’t take care of your ankle injury and leave it unattended and engage in activities very soon after spraining your ankle – your ankle may get subjected to repeated spraining and lead to the following complications: severe ankle pain, ankle joint arthritis, and ankle joint instability.

When to see an Orthopedic Doctor for your ankle Injury?

Fix an appointment with your orthopedic doctor if you have sprained ankle with severe pain, swelling and inflammation. Self-care is alright to a certain extent, but you must talk tour an orthopedic doctor to know whether you should evaluate your ankle. For instance, severe pain, bruising, and inflammation are indicative of significant muscle and ligament damage or a broken ankle bone. Therefore, you should consult your doctor immediately.

What is the treatment for an ankle injury?

Orthopedic doctors decide the treatment based on the extent of the injury. Your doctor may suggest a few self-care measures and over-the-counter pain medication to manage pain. In any case, you should see your doctor for a thorough medical examination and evaluation. Your doctor may decide on appropriate treatment based on the severity of the injury.