Ankle injuries are common in athletes, given the physically demanding activities. Nonetheless, they are not the only susceptible individuals. As you walk, jog, and hike, among other considerations, you, too, can injure your ankle. The ankles feature a combination of tendons, ligaments, and bones that facilitates motion. They are vulnerable, meaning that a stumble or coming down the wrong way could result in a painful strain or sprain. When in pain, don’t ignore it. Alamo Heights high ankle sprain requires effective attention to avoid worsening the situation, emphasizing the need for proper diagnosis, treatment, and management.
Sprain prevention
While ankle sprains are common injuries, you can do a lot to lower the risks. Among the practical but straightforward sprain prevention tips include:
- Working on your balance
- Warm-ups before exercising
- Exercising your ankle’s full range of motion
- Flexing and stretching
- Taping the ankles
Diagnosis and treatment
When an injury hits, you might not readily tell the severity. Your doctor runs tests like external rotation and squeeze tests. They could also consider an MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan for a thorough diagnosis. The diagnosis informs the treatment approach. The treatment’s primary goal is to reduce swelling and pain and trigger ligament healing, restoring the ankle’s function. This could include:
- Over the counter pain reliever
- Therapy (physical, Platelet-rich plasma)
- Devices like crutches
- Surgery, in case the ligament does not heal, hence requiring reconstruction
Ankle sprain management
A significant part that affects how you heal and restore the ankle’s function is how you manage the sprain. Your doctor will do their part, but you can worsen the situation if you don’t follow the right management guidelines. Among the common ankle sprain management measures includes:
Rest
Resting can be tricky. You want to keep up with your busy schedule. As an athlete, you want to get back on the field as fast as possible. You could be feeling fit with pain relievers, but the healing hasn’t kicked in well. Besides pain and discomfort, you need rest to keep the swelling down, easing the recovery. Walking on a sprained ankle too soon could cause more damage, extending the needed recovery period. Rest and give the inflamed tissues time to heal.
Ice
Applying ice is relaxing, but that’s not all it does. Ice decreases blood flow to the sprained ankle. This reduces swelling, improving the recovery process. Before considering ice, talk to your doctor, especially if you have diabetes, vascular disease, or decreased sensation.
Elevation
Elevation, especially when sleeping, helps speed up recovery. Elevation allows you to tap into gravity. It helps drain excess fluid, reducing the swelling.
Compression
Wrapping the ankle with an elastic bandage compresses the area, lowering blood and fluids flow, hence dealing with the swelling. However, don’t wrap it too tightly since it can hinder circulation.
A sprained ankle can knock you off balance, but you will be back on your feet in no time with effective treatment and management. You have a lot to leverage with the ever-evolving medical approaches, including using topical CBD products. Contact Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio today for all your ankle and foot-related injuries.
