Symptoms of Ankle Injury

One of the most common of all athletic (and perhaps one of the most common of all non-athletic) injuries is the sprained ankle, which causes pain and immobilization and can be quite annoying because of the limitations it places on an individual.

A sprain occurs when the ligaments (connecting bone to bone) are stretched beyond the normal range of motion. A sprain is the most common ankle injury and a previously hurt foot accounts for most chronic ankle pain.

One of the most common causes for this condition is the structure of a person’s foot. Depending on the structure of your foot the ankle could be more likely to roll or twist, causing a sprain. Weak muscles can be ineffective in stabilizing the ankle and thus they may be unable to prevent the ankle from rolling. Poor proprioception, the body’s ability to detect where a joint is can cause the ankle to roll. It isn’t something that you really think about. You know where the surface you want to step on is located, but the body doesn’t quite know where the position of the ankle and is not prepared to stabilize the joint once the foot strikes the surface.

This condition is measured in degrees of severity. A first-degree sprain causes little or no functional loss, though it does cause pain and a relatively small amount of swelling and joint stiffness. Second-degree ankle sprain causes moderate instability, pain, swelling and stiffness. Third-degree ankle sprain causes a total loss of motion and often time brings on extreme pain followed by no pain and swelling.

If this injury is significant enough to get you off your feet, but isn’t of third degree status, then there is a common method of treatment that requires no medication. RICE, this stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. If pain and swelling continue, go see a doctor.