Spraining an ankle is more common than you think, and more often than not, a sprained ankle can go undiagnosed for months and mistaken for a badly twisted ankle. Sprained ankles are painful, upsetting, and can be difficult to overcome. And perhaps the most unfortunate part about spraining an ankle, is that it’s virtually unavoidable. Sprained ankles cannot be prevented, they cannot be foreseen, and there are only so many ways that they can be treated if experienced.

Everyone from children, to adolescents, to teens and adults, to athletes and fitness enthusiasts can experience a sprained ankle when they least expect it. In fact, these injuries are so common that nearly 25,000 people a day sprain an ankle! That number might be a bit surprising, but in the orthopedic industry, it is one of the most common injuries we treat on a daily basis. At Orthopedic Associates, our team of highly skilled and highly experienced physicians and orthopedics are experts on treating sprained ankles. Not only do we know just how to treat them, we also know exactly what type of information and exercises to send you home with to have your ankle healed up in no time at all.

However, before we talk more about that, what exactly is a sprained ankle and why are they so common?

An ankle sprain occurs when one or more ligaments on the outer side of an ankle become stretched or torn completely. This can happen if someone lands on their ankle a bit off balance, placing all of their weight on the ankle. If the ankle rolls inwards or outwards, the chance for a sprain is highly likely.

For our patients who experience a sprained ankle, we follow the American Orthopedic Foot And Ankle Society’s sprained ankle care guide to ensure that their ankle heals properly and efficiently. This four-point care guide should help to facilitate the healing process with minimal pain and discomfort.

Rest – Do not walk on your sprained ankle. Use crutches when necessary and do not bare any weight on the injured ankle.
Ice – Ice your ankle as often as possible to prevent swelling and to make pain and discomfort more tolerable.
Compression – Useful for supporting the ankle and keeping it in place to heal most efficiently.
Elevate – Elevate the injured ankle by propping it up above the chest or heart as often as possible.

Orthopedic Associates
This four-point care guide will help to ensure that your ankle heals well after experiencing the common injury of an ankle sprain. Here at OA, our team of physicians and orthopedics have developed a deep understanding and an extensive expertise in this common injury through working with our partner societies like the American Orthopedic Foot And Ankle Society to provide our patients with the very best care to ensure that their ankle heals quickly and efficiently. Here at OA, we always do what’s right for our patients and we’ll never steer you in the wrong direction. Contact us today to inquire more about our treatments for ankle sprains.