Ankle Sprains Specialist

What causes ankle sprains?

When you overstretch or tear the ligaments in your ankle, it’s called a sprain. As durable and rugged as these fibrous connective tissues may be, one quick ankle roll can leave you with a serious injury. You can sprain your ankle by:

• Walking or running on uneven surfaces
• Falling, tripping, or missing a stair step
• Twisting incorrectly while playing sports
• Landing poorly when jumping

What’s even worse is that if you’ve ever had an ankle sprain in the past, you’re more likely to have long-lasting ankle instability, meaning you’re more likely to have an ankle sprain again in the future.

Do sprained ankles cause symptoms?

Yes, although not all symptoms are immediate. In the beginning, it’s normal to feel some ankle pain or tension. You might even find it difficult to bear weight on the affected foot. Over the following day, as inflammation around the injury worsens, it’s common to experience:

• Swelling and bruising
• Extreme tenderness
• Throbbing pain

Severely sprained ankles tend to mimic symptoms of a broken bone or dislocated ankle. Because these issues can lead to permanent damage and chronic pain if you don’t get a proper diagnosis, it’s important to schedule an evaluation at Foot and Ankle Center for the Rockies Specialists right away — even if the injury seems minor.

How are sprained ankles treated?

Foot and Ankle Center for the Rockies have digital X-ray imaging services offered right in the office, so they can thoroughly diagnose you on the spot. After advanced imaging and a comprehensive physical exam, the podiatrist starts designing your treatment plan based on the severity of your injury. Sprained ankle treatment can include:

• Applying ice regularly
• Keeping the area tightly wrapped
• Physical therapy or stretches
• Ultrasound therapy
• Balance training
• Customized supportive orthotics

These therapies are often beneficial for slight overstretching of your ankle ligament (Grade 1 sprain) or partial tearing (Grade 2 sprain). If you have a complete ligament tear (Grade 3 sprain), the podiatrist could recommend surgery if you’re not getting stronger or finding relief from conservative therapies.

Sprained ankle surgery involves reconstructing your torn ligament through a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure. While surgery for an ankle sprain is rare, if it’s something you need, you can feel confident that Foot and Ankle Center for the Rockies expert team is going to care for you every step of the way.

If you have an ankle sprain, call the office to schedule an appointment.