Sprained Ankle

About your injury

A sprained ankle is one of the most common soft tissue injuries seen in practice. A sprain is when a ligament is stretched or partially torn. Severe sprains can lead to complete tearing of ligaments. Sometimes, an ankle sprain can lead to a break of the bone in the ankle.

How did it happen?

95% of ankle sprains occur when your foot turns inwards and the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are over-stretched. They are very common in sports that involve running, jumping and turning such as football, rugby, basketball and netball. Falling over wearing high heels is another common cause.

What are the symptoms?

Typical symptoms include initially hearing a loud crack and a sense of giving way. The twisting can cause immense pain and lead to difficulty weight-bearing. Over the next 48 hours, swelling and discolouration on the outside of the ankle are usually present.

What should I do?

• Avoid stressing the ligament further i.e. avoid weight-bearing for at least the first 24 hours
• Ice the swollen area using a bag of frozen peas or ice pack wrapped in a tea towel. Do this for 10 minutes every hour
• Take some anti-inflammatory medication such as Nurofen
• Consult an Osteopath to determine the severity of the sprain. It is important to work out also whether an x-ray is needed. Finally, the Osteopath will provide some physical therapy and advice on stretching and strengthening exercises.

Contact Us

email jamie@theosteopath.net if you would like to make an appointment.