Occurrence Of Sprained Ankles And Their Treatment
As many people find out when they become one of the numerous people who sprain ankles every year, this is an injury that is treated by a podiatrist. Many people mistakenly think that the practice of a podiatrist is limited to the actual foot but, in reality, their practice area extends to the ankle and related structures. Ligaments hold the bones in the ankle in place and help to prevent the joint from turning in abnormal movements involving rolling, twisting or turning the foot awkwardly. The elastic-like ligaments stretch to accommodate movements and then return to their original position. When they are stretched beyond their normal range, it results in a sprain which is a tearing of the elastic fibers.
How Sprains Occur
Sprains are common ankle injuries that can happen to any person who is or is not an athlete, of any age. All it takes to cause a sprain is to take a misstep and turn the foot in any direction that causes the ligaments in the ankle to stretch beyond their allowable length. A severe turn of the ankle can cause the ligaments to tear. Rolling the foot to the side when you step on something can also cause a sprain to occur.
There are 3 grades of sprains, with those at the lowest grade level not always requiring the help of a podiatrist. The three grades are as follows:
> Grade 1 - Slight stretching of the ligament with minor damage to the elastic fibers
> Grade 2 - Partial tearing of the ligament, resulting in abnormal laxity of the joint that may appear as a fracture.
> Grade 3 - The ligament is completely torn, resulting in gross instability of the joint.
The higher the grade of the sprain, the more significant the tenderness and swelling will be. More severe sprains also cause a greater impairment of the ankle joint. Grade 2 and 3 sprains may require physical therapy in order to regain regular use of the ankle.
When to Consult a Podiatrist
Although the initial consultation after you have received an injury to the ankle may be with a general practitioner, you can expect to have X-rays made to rule out a broken bone. Fractures can often have similar symptoms to sprains. If there is no fracture present, diagnosis may be made according to the amount of pain you are experiencing and the degree of swelling and bruising. A lot can be determined by a physical examination, such as indicating which ligament in the ankle has been injured or torn.
If the ankle becomes unstable once the initial symptoms have passed, the general physician may either order an MRI to determine the severity of the injury or make the referral to a podiatrist who specializes in this type of injury. Injuries may occur to the joint surface or there may be small bone chips causing problems. They may also wait until the initial symptoms of swelling and bruising have resolved before ordering the MRI. Since the amount of pain often indicates the severity of the injury, a painful ankle injury should never be ignored.
How Sprains Occur
Sprains are common ankle injuries that can happen to any person who is or is not an athlete, of any age. All it takes to cause a sprain is to take a misstep and turn the foot in any direction that causes the ligaments in the ankle to stretch beyond their allowable length. A severe turn of the ankle can cause the ligaments to tear. Rolling the foot to the side when you step on something can also cause a sprain to occur.
There are 3 grades of sprains, with those at the lowest grade level not always requiring the help of a podiatrist. The three grades are as follows:
> Grade 1 - Slight stretching of the ligament with minor damage to the elastic fibers
> Grade 2 - Partial tearing of the ligament, resulting in abnormal laxity of the joint that may appear as a fracture.
> Grade 3 - The ligament is completely torn, resulting in gross instability of the joint.
The higher the grade of the sprain, the more significant the tenderness and swelling will be. More severe sprains also cause a greater impairment of the ankle joint. Grade 2 and 3 sprains may require physical therapy in order to regain regular use of the ankle.
When to Consult a Podiatrist
Although the initial consultation after you have received an injury to the ankle may be with a general practitioner, you can expect to have X-rays made to rule out a broken bone. Fractures can often have similar symptoms to sprains. If there is no fracture present, diagnosis may be made according to the amount of pain you are experiencing and the degree of swelling and bruising. A lot can be determined by a physical examination, such as indicating which ligament in the ankle has been injured or torn.
If the ankle becomes unstable once the initial symptoms have passed, the general physician may either order an MRI to determine the severity of the injury or make the referral to a podiatrist who specializes in this type of injury. Injuries may occur to the joint surface or there may be small bone chips causing problems. They may also wait until the initial symptoms of swelling and bruising have resolved before ordering the MRI. Since the amount of pain often indicates the severity of the injury, a painful ankle injury should never be ignored.
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