What is an Ankle Sprain?
Ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries characterised by damage to the ligaments surrounding the ankle joint, often caused by excessive stretching or tearing. These injuries frequently occur during activities involving sudden changes in direction, jumping, or landing on uneven surfaces. Ankle sprains range in severity from mild stretching of the ligaments to partial tearing or complete tearing. Approximately 90% of ankle sprains involve an inversion injury, where the foot turns inward. Less common are medial ankle sprains, resulting from an eversion injury where the foot turns outward.
Common Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of an ankle sprain can vary depending on the severity of the injury, but commonly include:
- Pain which may range from mild to severe depending on the extent of ligament damage. The pain is often felt along the outer or inner side of the ankle joint.
- Swelling is a common symptom of sprains and usually develops rapidly following the injury. The swelling may be localised to the injured area or extend to the surrounding tissues.
- Bruising or discoloration around the affected area due to bleeding into the tissues from damaged blood vessels.
- Instability or weakness in the ankle joint, making it difficult to weight bear or walk normally. The ankle may feel wobbly or give way during movement.
- Popping Sensation in some cases, you may hear or feel a popping sensation at the time of injury, which can indicate a ligament tear or rupture.
- Decreased Function limiting mobility and participation in activities such as walking, running, or sports.
Underlying Causes and Risk Factors
Ankle sprains are typically caused by sudden force or trauma that forces the ankle joint out of its normal position, leading to excessive stretching or tearing of the ligaments that support the joint. Common causes of ankle sprains include:
- Inversion Injury is the most common cause of ankle sprain, where the foot rolls inward, causing the outer ankle to twist excessively. Often occurring when landing from a jump, waliking on uneven surfaces, or sudden direction changes.
- Eversion Injury occur when the foot rolls outward, causing excessive stretching or tearing of the ligaments on the inner side of the ankle. Eversion injuries can result from trauma such as a sudden twist or impact to the inner ankle.
- High-Impact Activities often involve rapid changes in direction, jumping, or landing. Sports such as basketball, football, volleyball, and trail running pose a higher risk due to the dynamic nature of the movements involved.
- Uneven Surfaces walking, running, or exercising on uneven or unstable surfaces, such as grass, gravel, or uneven pavement can increase the risk of the ankle rolling or twisting unexpectedly, leading to ligament injury.
- Fatigue or Muscle Weakness can impair proprioception (the body’s sense of joint position) and increase the risk of injury. Weakness in the ankle stabilising muscles or fatigue from prolonged activity can lead to compromised joint stability and susceptibility to sprains.
- Previous Ankle Injuries increase the risk of future sprains. Ligaments that have previously stretched or torn may be weaker and less able to withstand stress.
Treatment and Recovery
Treatment for an ankle sprain typically involves a combination of rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), and rehabilitation exercises. Here’s a breakdown of the treatment approach:
- Rest the injured ankle initially to allow the damaged ligaments to heal. Avoid putting weight on the affected ankle and refrain from aggravating activity.
- Ice packs applied to the injured ankle for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours during the first 48 hours after the injury, helps to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Compression using an elastic bandage or wrap to gently compress the injured ankle helps control swelling and provides support to the injured tissues. Make sure the wrap or bandage is not too tight to avoid interfering with circulation.
- Elevate the injured ankle above the level of the heart, especially during rest, to help reduce swelling by facilitating fluid drainage from the injured area.
- Immobilisation with a brace, splint, or walking boot may be necessary for more severe strain to stabilise the ankle, protect the injured ligaments, promote healing and prevent further injury.
- Rehabilitation Exercises once the initial pain and swelling have subsided, rehabilitation exercises can help to restore strength, flexibility, and proprioception to the ankle joint.
- Support Braces after the acute phase of the injury, wearing a supportive ankle brace during activities can provide additional stability and reduce the risk of reinjury.
How Can Ankle Supports Braces Help?
Ankle support such as those from OPPO Health can play a crucial role in the management of ankle sprains by providing stability, support, and protection to the injured joint. Here’s how ankle braces can help:
- Stability from supports such as the OPPO Elite Ankle Stabiliser limit excessive movement and prevent abnormal twisting or rolling motions reducing the risk of injury, promoting recovery, and protection from re-injury.
- Compression reduces swelling and inflammation, and improves proprioception, the body’s sense of joint position, to enhance balance and coordination during movement. The OPPO Agility Figure of 8 Ankle Support features adjustable tension from light to total compression for individual requirements.
- Immobilisation rigid or semi-rigid braces help to immobilise the ankle joint to protect injured ligaments from further stress and allows proper healing. uses figure of 8 straps in together with lacing for superior support and improved protection.
- Support compensates for instability, weak or damaged ligaments enhancing stability and proprioception.
- Pain Relief by stabilising and supporting the ankle joint, pain and discomfort can be alleviated. The compression and support may also help reduce pain by minimising swelling and inflammation.
- Prevention of Re-Injury wearing an ankle brace during physical activity or sports participation can help prevent re-injury by reducing the risk of excessive ankle movement and providing additional support to the joint. This can be especially beneficial during the early stages of rehabilitation when the ankle is still healing and vulnerable to further injury.
