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What is ankle sprain?
This occurs when you cause damage to ligaments around the ankle area. These are bands of strong fibrous tissue that connect one bone to another, and support and strengthen the joints. If the foot turns inwards (through twisting the ankle), the fibres of the ligaments sometimes tear and tiny blood vessels may bleed.
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Symptoms of ankle sprain
When your ankle has been sprained, it:
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Ankle sprain - causes and risk factors
You can often twist your ankle and cause injury without realising.
When you injure their ankle playing sport, for example, it's usually obvious because the pain is sudden and felt immediately. But if the injury is minor (for example, if it happens while walking or getting on a bus) and is then made worse by continued activity, the pain may not be felt until later on.
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Treatment and recovery for a sprained ankle
As with other sprains and injuries, use the RICE regime to reduce swelling:
Simple painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, are usually enough to relieve the discomfort, while arnica cream or witch-hazel solution (available from the pharmacist) are good natural treatments for bruising.
After three or four days you should be able to put weight on the ankle, and after a week it should be a lot better. However, it takes about six weeks to heal fully so be careful or you'll be back to square one.
During this time you may want to get help from a physiotherapist (or other physical therapist, such as an osteopath or chiropractor). They'll be able to give you treatments to aid healing, as well as advice on how to prevent the injury recurring.
If painkillers don't help or you can't put any weight on the ankle or the ankle continues to swell, see your doctor who may arrange for an X-ray to make sure you haven't broken a bone.
This occurs when you cause damage to ligaments around the ankle area. These are bands of strong fibrous tissue that connect one bone to another, and support and strengthen the joints. If the foot turns inwards (through twisting the ankle), the fibres of the ligaments sometimes tear and tiny blood vessels may bleed.
Top
Symptoms of ankle sprain
When your ankle has been sprained, it:
- Swells up
- Looks bruised
- Causes pain
Top
Ankle sprain - causes and risk factors
You can often twist your ankle and cause injury without realising.
When you injure their ankle playing sport, for example, it's usually obvious because the pain is sudden and felt immediately. But if the injury is minor (for example, if it happens while walking or getting on a bus) and is then made worse by continued activity, the pain may not be felt until later on.
Top
Treatment and recovery for a sprained ankle
As with other sprains and injuries, use the RICE regime to reduce swelling:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression (using an elastic support bandage)
- Elevation
Simple painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, are usually enough to relieve the discomfort, while arnica cream or witch-hazel solution (available from the pharmacist) are good natural treatments for bruising.
After three or four days you should be able to put weight on the ankle, and after a week it should be a lot better. However, it takes about six weeks to heal fully so be careful or you'll be back to square one.
During this time you may want to get help from a physiotherapist (or other physical therapist, such as an osteopath or chiropractor). They'll be able to give you treatments to aid healing, as well as advice on how to prevent the injury recurring.
If painkillers don't help or you can't put any weight on the ankle or the ankle continues to swell, see your doctor who may arrange for an X-ray to make sure you haven't broken a bone.