Sprained Ankle

What is a sprained ankle?

A sprained ankle occurs when the ligaments in your ankle get overstretched or torn from a roll of your foot or poorly made step. Sprains most often affect the ligaments in your outer ankle.

The type of treatment you need for your sprained ankle depends on the severity of the stretch or tear of your ligament. The experienced team at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers provide comprehensive evaluations so you can get the most effective treatment plan for proper healing.

What are the symptoms of a sprained ankle?

Your sprained ankle symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the injury. However, common symptoms include:

• Ankle pain
• Difficulty walking or ankle instability
• Swelling or bruising
• Tenderness when touched
• Decreased range of motion

You may also experience a pop-like sensation at the moment of the stretching or tear.

How is a sprained ankle diagnosed?

Your specialist at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers conducts a comprehensive evaluation to determine if your ankle pain is due to a sprain. Your examination not only includes an evaluation of your foot and ankle, but also diagnostic imaging such as an X-ray or MRI.

When evaluating your sprained ankle, your specialist provides a grade, which indicates the degree of your sprain. Sprained ankle grades include:

• Grade 1 sprain: mild
• Grade 2 sprain: moderate
• Grade 3 sprain: severe

Your sprained ankle grade may determine the type of treatment you need to heal.

What treatments can improve my sprained ankle?

Your specialist at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers devises a treatment plan for your sprained ankle based on the grade of your sprain, as well as your medical history and daily activities.

Your treatment may include:

• Rest and ice
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Targeted exercises

If needed, your specialist may refer you to a physical therapist to assist in your recovery. While you may want to rest your sprained ankle, exercise and activity are an important part of the healing process and may help prevent future ankle problems.

For sprained ankles that are severe and don't respond to conservative treatment, your specialist may recommend surgery. However, it’s very rare to need surgery for a sprained ankle.

A sprained ankle may seem like an injury you can manage at home, but for proper healing of your ligaments, you need to have your ankle evaluated by the podiatric experts at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers. Schedule an appointment online or by phone today.