Ankle Sprain – Learn about the Symptoms and Treatment Methods

1. Ankle Sprain – Learn about the Symptoms and Treatment Methods Ankle sprains occur when you accidently roll or turn your ankle in an awkward way. The article details the symptoms and treatment options for the same. An ankle sprainis an injury to the tough bands of ligaments (tissue) that surround and connect the bones of the leg to the foot. Typically, this injury occurs when you accidently twist, roll or turn your ankle in an awkward way. Ankle injuries can be painful and repeated injury to the joint can cause long-term problems, including chronic ankle pain and arthritis. Leading multispecialty healthcare and pain management centers in Brooklyn, NYC offer effective treatment to reduce the swelling and pain and restore the joint’s flexibility, range of motion, and strength. Ankle sprains can happen to anyone, at any age. The injury occurs when the ligaments surrounding the ankle are forced beyond their normal range of motion. Prior ankle injury, participating in sports that require cutting actions or rolling, and twisting of the foot (such as trail running, basketball, tennis, football, and soccer),walking or exercising on an uneven surfaces, landing awkwardly on your foot (after jumping or pivoting), or even wearing inappropriate footwear, can all cause a sprained ankle. Common Symptoms How do you know if you have a sprained ankle? Signs and symptoms of the condition depend on the severity of the injury. Key symptoms may include – ▪Pain, especially when you bear weight on the affected foot ▪Tenderness when you touch the ankle ▪Swelling ▪Stiffness and instability in the ankle ▪Skin discoloration www.hqbk.com

2. ▪Restricted range of motion ▪Popping sensation or sound at the time of injury ▪Bruising How are Ankle Sprains Diagnosed and Treated? As part of the initial diagnosis, the pain management physician will examine your ankle, foot and lower leg. A detailed physical examination will be conducted wherein the physician will examine the site of the injury to check/identify for points of tenderness. You will be asked to move your foot to check the range of motion and to understand what positions cause discomfort or pain. If the injury is severe, your physician may recommend imaging tests to rule out a broken bone or to evaluate the extent of ligament damage in more detail. Without proper treatment and rehabilitation, a severe sprain can weaken your ankle and increase the chances of re-injury. So it’s important to get treatment as early as possible. In a Brooklyn based pain management center, treatment will focus on reducing pain and swelling, promoting healing of the ligament, and restoring the function of the joint. Modalities used will depend on whether the injury is mild or severe. Home treatments or self-care measures Simple home remedies may work for milder sprains. Your physician may recommend the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) as the initial treatment: oRest – Take as much rest as possible for the first 2 days by not putting weight on your ankle or walking on it. Avoid any activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. oIce – Applying ice packs to the injured area will help reduce swelling. Use ice packs for at least 15-20 minutes, three to four times a day. oCompression – Use elastic bandages (such as an ACE bandage) or ace-wraps to wrap your ankle, but not too tightly. Using wraps will immobilize and support the injured ankle and reduce swelling. Game Ready, the advanced compression therapy (cryotherapy with compression) works effectively to address ankle pain and swelling. oElevation – Elevate your ankle above the level of your heart, especially at night. Gravity helps reduce swelling by draining excess fluid. Medications– Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) are prescribed to address pain. Physical therapy (PT) - Therapeutic exercises help improve the ankle's range of motion, strength, flexibility, stability and promote healing. Physical therapy exercises can restore full www.hqbk.com

3. functional mobility. Modalities such as Ultrasound and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) may also be used in the early stages of treatment to reduce pain. Supportive shoes and orthotics –Ankle supports and shoe inserts take the extra stress off the tendon and lower pain and discomfort. Foot Levelers Functional Orthotics soles can be easily slipped into any type of closed footwear. By supporting the feet, orthotics help alleviate pain throughout the body and improve balance. Ankle sprains usually do not require surgery. Surgery may be recommended only when the ligament injury does not heal or the ankle stability is not restored with these nonsurgical modalities. www.hqbk.com