These exercises are easy to do—you just trace the alphabet with your toe. This helps the ankle move in all directions. Ask your doctor about other rehab. Stretching, strength training, and balance exercises may help the ankle heal totally and may prevent further injury. Ankle sprains occur when ligaments that connect the bones in the foot, ankle, and lower leg stretch or tear. There are different types of ankle sprains.
An inversion injury, the most common cause of ankle sprains, occurs when the ankle rolls outward and the foot turns inward.
It results in stretching and tearing of the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. In an eversion injury, the ankle rolls inward and the foot turns outward, damaging the ligaments at the inside of the ankle.
In a "high" ankle sprain, a less common type of injury, ligaments that join the two lower leg bones together above the ankle, called the syndesmosis, are injured. This usually happens if the foot is forced up, or if the leg is forcefully twisted while the foot is planted. This injury can occur either by itself or with an inversion or eversion sprain.
If the ligaments of the syndesmosis are injured, the sprain is more severe and takes longer to heal. Damage to the ligament varies from simply stretched or slightly torn to completely torn. Your doctor will grade your sprain accordingly. People usually feel immediate pain at the site of an ankle sprain.
Often the ankle starts to swell immediately and may develop bruising. The affected area is usually tender to touch and may feel "wobbly" or unstable. The severity of your symptoms usually depends on how much tearing has occurred.
In more severe sprains, you are often not able to walk or even put weight on your foot, and your ankle may feel unstable. You usually have extreme pain at first, but some people start to feel better fairly soon. If a sprain does not heal correctly, your ankle joint may be more likely to be injured again or the pain may not go away.
This often occurs with even a slight trauma, such as stepping off a curb or walking on uneven pavement. Some people complain of persistent pain and swelling. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you are not getting better after 1 week. If your pain is mild and you are able to put some weight on your foot, you may follow the recommendations in the Treatment Overview and Home Treatment sections of this topic.
Early treatment followed by rehabilitation exercises help your ankle heal properly. If treatment recommendations are not followed, your ankle may stay weak and unstable. Your doctor will ask you when and how the ankle sprain occurred and ask about any prior injuries.
Next, your doctor will examine your foot, ankle, and lower leg and even your knee to see if any other injury occurred. He or she may ask you to move your foot up and down and to take a few steps if possible. Your doctor will then carefully try moving your foot and ankle to see if the ligaments are intact and what movements cause pain.
If your sprain is mild, an X-ray may not be taken. If your sprain is more severe, you may need X-rays to evaluate the ankle. X-rays can help your doctor find out whether you have any ligament tears, broken bones, or bones that have moved out of their normal positions.
X-rays are often taken for children because of potential injury to the bone's growth plate and possible disruption of normal growth. Doctors may take X-rays of both ankles so they can compare the injured ankle with the one that is healthy. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. It may help to wear hiking boots or other high-top, lace-up shoes for support.
Your doctor may suggest that you keep some or all of your weight off your ankle as it heals. If this happens, learn to use your crutches or walker properly and safely.
Almost all ankle sprains heal on their own with proper home treatment and rehabilitation rehab exercises. Surgery to repair torn ligaments is usually only considered when there is a severe ligament tear or tears or if the ankle remains unstable after rehab.
Surgery is also a consideration if you have broken a bone. Ankle sprains take an average of 6 weeks to heal but can take can up to 4 months, depending on the severity. An ankle brace, air stirrup, hiking boots, or other form of ankle support should be worn during this time to protect the ligaments. After the ankle is healed, wearing an ankle brace or taping the ankle may help prevent reinjury. There are several treatments you can try at home if your feet, legs, and ankles regularly swell up.
These remedies can help relieve swelling when it occurs:. Here are some general guidelines that can help you identify when swelling warrants a trip to the doctor or to the emergency room. You should go to the hospital immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms along with foot, leg, and ankle swelling:. During your appointment, your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask you about your symptoms. Be prepared to explain:. To help diagnose the cause of the swelling, your doctor may order one or more of the following tests:.
If your swelling is related to a lifestyle habit or a minor injury, your doctor will likely recommend home treatments.
If your swelling is the result of an underlying health condition, your doctor will first attempt to treat that specific condition. Swelling may be reduced with prescription medications, such as diuretics.
However, there are some steps you can take to prevent it. Some good strategies include:. Painless, swollen feet is a common occurrence.
A study suggests that there may be a link between thyroid disorders and rheumatoid arthritis , which can also cause painful swelling in the joints. There are many explanations for why a person may have swollen feet. Some causes, such as a twisted or sprained ankle, are obvious.
Others might be…. An itchy ankle is a complaint with a wide variety of causes. We discuss possible causes, means of prevention, and when to see a doctor. Edema, or water retention, occurs when fluid builds up in the tissues of the body. Learn about edema here. Vibration white finger VWF is a long-term condition that develops due to prolonged use of vibrating tools.
Learn more here about VWF here. Keith Fisher, M. Foot or ankle injury Cellulitis Medication side effect Chronic venous insufficiency Blood clots Pregnancy Preeclampsia Lymphedema Heart failure Chronic kidney disease Liver disease Hypothyroidism When to see a doctor There are many different causes of swollen ankles.
Foot or ankle injury. Share on Pinterest A person may experience inflammation due to an injury on the ankle or foot. Medication side effect. Chronic venous insufficiency. Blood clots. Share on Pinterest Swollen ankles are a common side effect of pregnancy.
Heart failure. Chronic kidney disease. Share on Pinterest Regular exercise can help maintain kidney function. Liver disease. When to see a doctor. Medically reviewed by J. Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? So follow your doctor's advice and don't push yourself or feel pressure to get back into sports or other activities too soon. Sprains usually heal well, but they need time to get fully better. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.
What Is an Ankle Sprain? The signs of an ankle sprain depend on how serious it is. Common symptoms include: pain soreness swelling trouble bearing weight or walking on the ankle bruising What Causes Ankle Sprains?
How Are Ankle Sprains Diagnosed? How Are Ankle Sprains Treated? Treatment for an ankle sprain usually includes: protecting the ankle by taping, wearing a lace-up ankle brace, or ankle splint rest to prevent reinjury and limit swelling. How long somebody needs to take it easy depends on the injury. If no ligaments tore, 10—14 days might be long enough.
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