Ankle Sprain

What is an ankle sprain?

Your ankle joint — where your lower leg bones and upper foot bones come together — is bound in place by several ligaments. While strong and elastic, these ligaments can overstretch with one move in the wrong direction. This is an ankle sprain. With severe sprains, you might have one or more ligaments that are slightly torn or even ruptured.

How does an ankle sprain occur?

In any case, one thing’s for certain: Anyone can suffer from an ankle sprain. But your risk is higher due to:

• Previous ankle injury
• Inherited weak ligaments
• Running or training on hilly or uneven surfaces

Your chances of suffering from an ankle sprain are also higher if you play tennis, soccer, basketball, or another type of sport that requires sudden stopping and cutting motions.

Do I need to see a podiatrist for an ankle sprain?

Yes! An untreated ankle can be very severe and can lower your quality of life if you don’t get started on medical treatments early. Additionally, symptoms of an ankle sprain can mimic those of a fracture. Because of this, it’s important to come into South Coast Spine & Sports as soon as possible after your injury occurs, especially if you’re experiencing:

• Difficulty bearing weight on your ankle
• Swelling, inflammation, or tenderness
• Bruising or redness

When you injure your ankle, try to keep it elevated and apply ice packs regularly until you can get to South Coast Spine & Sports.

How does a podiatrist treat an ankle sprain?

At South Coast Spine & Sports, Dr. Hilal thoroughly examines you during your foot and ankle evaluation. To determine the severity of your ankle and to rule out a broken bone, he may take an in-office X-ray. After diagnosing your ankle sprain, Dr. Hilal counsels you about what to expect throughout your recovery.

Dr. Hilal provides different types of therapies throughout various stages of your recovery period to relieve pain, promote healing, and prevent re-injury. Ankle sprain treatment plans often include:

• Compression wrapping, bracing, or casting
• Therapeutic massage
• Electric stimulation
• Hot and cold packs
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Prolotherapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Radiofrequency ablation

Dr. Hilal also teaches you range-of-motion and strength-training exercises to perform after your initial healing phase so you can rebuild and improve your ankle strength.

If you have a sprained ankle, call South Coast Spine & Sports or request an appointment online today.