Taking care of a sprained ankle

The ankle is a synovial joint that connects the foot with the rest of the leg. It is
formed of three bones; the tibia, the fibula, which is next to the tibia, and the talus.
This bone is the main ankle bone, and it allows up and down movement of the foot.
These bones with the subtalar joints are linked and protected by ligaments.
Altogether, they allow the foot to move in a more extensive range of motion.

The first sign to determine if the ankle might have been sprained is the sensation of
pain during up and down or side to side movement. Sprains consist of the tearing or
stretching of the ligaments and they can be caused by different factors. It is possible
to sprain the ankle while practicing sports, doing exercise, or during any routine
physical activity such as going up or downstairs or simply walking. Normally, if after
twisting the ankle, there is a feeling of pain and the area around the ankle is swollen,
it will most likely be the case of an ankle sprain.

After getting a sprained ankle, it is recommended to follow the RICE technique,

which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This method should
significantly reduce the inflammation. The recovery time will depend on the severity
of the sprain. In most cases, there is a first-grade sprain; symptoms include pain
swelling and a little stiffness. It can take from around a week to a month to fully
recover.

A grade two sprain is similar, but people with this grade of injury might have
difficulties standing up or walking. The highest injury grade is the third one. In the
case of a third-grade sprain, medical support is necessary since the joint might be
more severely harmed. Symptoms are more intense, and it is impossible to keep the
weight balanced in both feet without any discomfort or pain. In all cases, it is advised
to rest the ankle as much as possible. Wearing a bandage can be useful and, in
some cases, necessary for the compression phase.

Not having an appropriate recovery time and care can be detrimental for the joints,
especially in the long term. An untreated sprained ankle can destabilize the joint,
cause chronic conditions and make the ankle more prone to constant spraints due to
the lack of stability, inflammation, and weakness that can be developed in this area.
In all cases, we recommend getting the injury checked by a doctor to determine
whether it is the case of a sprain. Then it is possible to verify the severity of it and
discard any additional injury to decide the kind of treatment you will need to follow.