ANKLE SPRAINS
WHAT IS AN ANKLE SPRAIN?
An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more ligaments in the ankle, usually on the outside of the ankle. Ligaments are bands of tissue—like rubber bands—that connect one bone to another and bind the joints together. In the ankle joint, ligaments provide stability by limiting side-to-side movement.
Some ankle sprains are much worse than others. The severity of an ankle sprain depends on whether the ligament is stretched, partially torn or completely torn, as well as on the number of ligaments involved.
TREATMENTS:
When you have an ankle sprain, rehabilitation is crucial—and it starts the moment your treatment begins. Rest, ice, compression, elevation, early physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and early range of motion. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to adequately treat an ankle sprain. Surgery often involves repairing the damaged ligament or ligaments. After surgery, rehabilitation is crucial to a successful outcome.
