Sprained Ankle Treatment – Early Ankle Injury Treatment

Sprained ankle treatment includes a wide range of programs and remedies. Early treatment

of an ankle sprain is the best way to go. A sprained ankle is an injury that results from the twisting of the foot or from sudden sideways movements. It is the stretching and tearing of ligaments at the back of the foot. The ligament most easily injured is the anterior talofibular ligament.

It can happen during sports activities or even while you are going through your daily routine. It is one of the most common injuries because just a wrong step or a quick hard twist of the foot can result in an ankle sprain.

Causes & Symptoms of Ankle Sprains

Common sprained ankle causes include jumping and landing wrongly, running and slipping, or slipping on ice. Possible symptoms are swelling and bruising around the ankle. Pain is the most obvious symptom of injury, especially when trying to stand on your injured foot.

Sprained Ankle Treatment Measures

If you are not sure of how serious or severe your ankle sprain injury is, consult a doctor before undergoing any kind of long term treatment like physical therapy or a rehabilitation program.

These are some simple steps to treat a sprained ankle:

Protect – Immediately after the injury, don’t forget to minimize movement. Do not put any weight on your foot. Provide protection to your injured lower leg by putting on an ankle brace for immobilization.

Ice – Putting an ice pack on the injury will most likely lessen the swelling and bruising. The ice pack can be applied several times within the day but not for more than 20 minutes. Remember that icing an injury for lengthy amounts of time can cause further injuries and damage your tissue muscles.

Rest – For the next few days, you should be off your feet as they cannot fully support your whole weight. Make sure that your ankle is rested. Let it heal. You can still do certain exercises like swimming. Just make sure to prevent further stresses on your ankle. The use of a crutch while doing your daily activities is highly recommended. Gradually increase the weight you put on your ankle, and when you can walk normally on your foot without the pain then you can discontinue your use of the crutch.

Compression – Use a bandage to provide compression to your injured ankle. Wrap your foot from the toes to the calf muscle to give ample compression. The wrap should not be loose, but not too tight to cut off blood circulation. If you can feel your foot becoming cold, blue, and numb, try to re-wrap your foot again.

Elevate – In keeping your weight off your foot and resting it for a few days, position it at a higher level than your chest or heart. Elevate your foot at night by placing it on top of two pillows or by putting it on top of several books.

Surgery – This is done only in the most serious cases like when repairing ligament punctures. It is a last resort and should be done after a thorough medical examination of the injury.

 Prevention of Ankle Sprains

You can do many things to prevent a sprained ankle injury. Regular health and fitness programs can strengthen the calf muscles. Stretching them may also help. In addition, you can do balance exercises. For professional athletes or when doing strenuous sports activities, taping or using an ankle brace will provide stability. Wearing proper shoes that provide a balanced support may prevent ankle sprains, too.

The proper healing of a previous injury may lessen the occurrence of a new ankle sprain. So remember to always consult a doctor before beginning any sprained ankle treatment.