What is ankle sprain? symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

 What is ankle sprain?

Ankle sprain is also called Foot sprain, which occurs as a result of sudden movements, roll or twist or turn of ankle in different movement, is one of the most common disorders in body structure. While the sprain of the foot can sometimes be mildly overcome with effects such as short-term pain, it sometimes progresses to the consequences of joint damage and bone fracture. Therefore, it is recommended that people who experience sprains in the ankle joint undergo a specialist physician control.

How Many Days Does An Ankle Sprain Heal?

Ankle sprain is a condition that heals quickly with the right treatment. In addition to the ice treatment, which should be applied until the pain is completely gone, recovery is observed within a few days by resting. Hemorrhagic sprains or sprains that turn into fractures may require surgical intervention, so the healing process of ankle sprains takes longer.

sprained ankle

Ankle Sprain Symptoms

The sprain experienced in the ankle can be easily understood thanks to the fixation made by hand and eye. During a sprain, a flexing sound is heard in the ankle and it is too painful to step on it. After a sprain, difficulty in standing or walking due to severe pain is seen as the clearest symptom of a foot sprain. Local swelling, bruising and discoloration after ice treatment also indicate sprained ankle.

How is it diagnosed?

In ankle sprains, a crackling sound, a tearing sensation is heard during the sprain, and there is pain when walking on it. There is a slight swelling on the outer side of the ankle and within 24 hours there will be bruising in that area.

 

How Is A Sprained Foot Treated?

Ankle sprains heal without intervention in most cases. However, simple pre-treatments that can be done at home can be applied to relieve the pain caused by the sprain and relieve the joint area.

Ice Compress: Compressing with an ice pack immediately after a sprained foot is the most powerful treatment method for relieving foot pain. During the first application, ice should be applied at certain intervals until the pain subsides, provided that it is at least half an hour.

Rest: The sprained foot should never be stepped on, it should be rested in a comfortable place in a supine position. In addition, in order to balance the blood circulation and reduce swelling, the foot part should be pulled above the heart level with the help of a pillow.

Medication: Painkillers taken with the advice of a doctor are an effective method to reduce the pain caused by a sprained foot.

Most ankle sprains are corrected with home treatment. However, if the pain in the foot continues more frequently and severely, it is necessary to apply to a health institution. In the treatment of sprains, the edema occurring in the foot is eliminated and the damage in the wrist is detected by palpating. If the sprain is severe, it should be investigated more comprehensively with advanced diagnostic methods. If a ligament rupture, fracture or crack is suspected in the ankle, advanced tests such as ankle radiography, computed tomography and ultrasonography are performed. If these suspicions are confirmed, surgery may be necessary as a last resort.

 

Ankle Sprained Edema Treatment

Some time after ankle sprain occurs, swelling and edema occur around the ankle. In order to eliminate the edema formed, several stages of treatment are applied. In the first stage, fixation is performed to prevent the ankle from moving and to take precautions against a possible fracture. Then, the area where the edema is seen is cooled with an ice pack to prevent the collection of hot blood in a single spot. If the pain is severe, pain relief medication is administered and the pain from the sprain is reduced.

Ankle Sprains and Swelling

It is quite normal to experience instant swelling as a result of a sprain in the ankle. Because high pressure occurs in the sudden movement of the wrist and a certain time must pass for the tissue to regain its former form. If the swelling in the ankle part is controlled, the effect of the sprain will gradually pass. For this, placing a cold water bag or ice pack in a way that does not come into direct contact with the swelling will help the swelling to pass visibly.

What's Good for Ankle Sprain?

Various herbal treatment methods, which are claimed to be good for ankle sprains, are recommended by some non-medical people. However, many of these methods have no scientifically proven benefits. It is important for people with foot sprains to follow only the recommendations of specialist doctors for proper treatment. When the edema and swelling starts to go down, you can wrap your ankle with an elastic bandage to get support from the heel. Thus, a support mechanism is created for the aching ankle and faster relief of the sprain is provided. Apart from this, you can massage the sprained area by using a slippery oil such as olive oil or a cream for ankle sprain. Massage with light touches softens the muscles near the joint area and helps to remove edema around the wrist.

Ankle Sprain Exercises

It is recommended to exercise in order to prevent the recurrence of the discomfort and to avoid constant foot sprains in the process after the treatment of foot sprain. 

Method and frequency of exercises; The condition of the muscles around the foot is determined by taking into account whether the blood circulation is regular after the sprain and the activity pattern. You can get support from the orthopedic service to determine this. You can also perform some practical exercises at home to strengthen the immobilized foot muscles. Simple exercises such as squatting, standing on one leg, light tempo movements on the step board to provide balance can be advantageous in the process of returning to daily life after a sprain.

Which Department/Doctor Should I Go To When The Foot Is Sprained?

If your standing pain does not go away as a result of sudden movement, the medical unit you should apply to is the physiotherapy department. Physiotherapist perform the necessary examinations for bone fractures, cracks, injuries or injuries to the muscles close to the bone, and in case of a serious condition, they direct the patient for treatment.

Physiotherapy for ankle sprain

In the treatment, swelling in the ankle should be monitored and the joint should be protected from traumas and strains until it heals. The first thing to do in treatment is ice application. 

Ice placed in a plastic bag is applied to the injured area with a thin towel for 10-20 minutes 3-4 times a day. 

The joint should be fully rested in the first 1-3 days. For this, a walking stick can be taken to the patient's side. In addition, a bandage or ankle support or ankle should be tightly bandaged to this area. Air splints can also be used for this. 

The sprained ankle should be elevated. 

(RICE protocol is applied, rest), ice (ice), compretion (bandage), elavation (raising).

The next step in the treatment is to prevent excessive movements of the ankle and to protect it from subsequent sprains. Bandages, splints, or braces can be used for this.

Therapeutic Modalities

 In order for some long-lasting lesions to completely heal, physical therapy courses including exercise, ultrasound, TENS treatments, and even surgical repair in tendon ruptures may be required. If the person who has an ankle injury is an athlete, a good rehabilitation program should be done. If the swelling and pain continue despite all these precautions, if the complaints do not decrease in 8-10 days, the situation may be serious. In this case, further evaluation with MRI or ultrasound should be performed