Sprain of the ankle

Stretching of the ligaments in the ankle is a partial rupture or damage to several or only one ligament in the area, most often from the outside. Bundles are a kind of cords from connective tissue that combine several bones together, giving stability to the joint. Ligaments of the ankle joint limit its movement to the sides.

Sometimes it is extremely difficult to assess the severity of some cases of ankle sprain. The complexity of the injury may vary depending on the number of tendons that have been injured and the number of fibers that have ruptured in each of the tendons. A distinctive feature of the ankle sprain from stretching elsewhere is that only ligaments can be damaged in this area, and muscle rupture never occurs.

Causes of

The cause of partial rupture of tendons is often a stroke, a sharp turn or fall. In the case of a complete rupture of ligaments in the ankle, this joint ceases to be in its normal position, this condition is called a dislocation. Trauma in most cases arises from walking or running on an uneven surface, wearing uncomfortable shoes, as well as participating in various sports competitions.

There are cases when the ankle sprain occurs due to the fact that the person from birth has weak tendons in this place. Previous injuries to the foot or ankle can also lead to loosening and stretching of the ligaments.

Symptoms of

The following symptoms indicate the ankle ligament:

• difficulty walking;
• painful sensations;
• swelling in this area;
• lack of stability in the joint;
• appearance of bruising;
• joint stiffness.

These symptoms may vary in intensity, this depends on the complexity of the tear. Painful sensations and swelling may be absent in those people who have already experienced such an injury before. But they can feel that there is no stability in the ankle joint, and he is in an abnormal position while walking. Even in the absence of certain symptoms and with minor injuries, diagnosis and treatment are necessary.

Treatment of

In fact, the treatment of sprains begins with rehabilitation. Because it must be passed necessarily, if you have such a trauma. To restore ligaments of the ankle, doctors offer such methods of treatment:

• Bandage. To stabilize the joint and reduce swelling, it is recommended to apply an elastic bandage.
• Ice. The ice pack must be applied to the damaged area. Ice should be wrapped in a thin towel. It is applied for 15 minutes, after which it is removed for an hour, and then the procedure is repeated.
• Elevated position. The ankle joint should be raised in such a way that it was above the level of the heart. This will help reduce pain and swelling. So that the leg is on a hill, use chairs, pillows, etc.
• Medications. To reduce pain and inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen may be prescribed. Sometimes it is necessary to use painkillers, prescription drugs. In addition, the treatment may require the use of additives for joints and ligaments.
• Therapeutic physical training. It is necessary to perform warm-up exercises, such as flexion and extension, rotation, beginning 3-4 days after injury, regardless of its severity. If there are no pains, you can gradually include a damaged leg in the work. If there is discomfort during warm-up, it is better not to perform it yet. To speed up the healing and recovery of the volume of movements, the doctor makes a rehabilitation program.
• Peace. It is necessary in the first few days after trauma. You need to spare the ankle, walking less, so as not to cause more serious damage.

Operation

In particularly difficult cases, it is necessary to perform an operation to restore injured tendons. Depending on the degree of activity of the patient, as well as the severity and type of injury, doctors choose a surgical procedure that would be most effective in each case.