Sprained ankles usually happen when you accidentally roll, twist, or turn an ankle in an awkward way. When this occurs, your ankle ligaments are forced beyond their range of motion causing injury.

Sprained ankle symptoms may include swelling, bruising, tenderness, and pain. You may also experience restricted range of motion or feel instability in your ankle joint.

Ankle sprains have many different causes. Simple, everyday activities like walking, running, or exercising on an uneven surface can lead to a sprained ankle. If you participate in sports, you’re likely more susceptible to spraining an ankle because you’re more likely to fall, land awkwardly after a jump, or collide with other players.

Some of the main risk factors that can lead to a sprained ankle are improper footwear, prior ankle problems, weak or inflexible ankles, and, as mentioned above, uneven surfaces and sports.

To help prevent an ankle sprain, we recommend that you always warm up before any physical activity, use caution when walking or running on rough surfaces, consider taping or wearing a brace on a previously injured ankle, and avoid frequently wearing footwear that puts extra tension on your ankles, such as high heels.

To alleviate some of the discomforts of an ankle sprain, we recommend plenty of rest, icing the affected ankle, keeping it elevated, and wrapping it for compression so it has little to no motion.

If you or someone you know has a sprained ankle, we can help.

A Physicians Footcare podiatrist will thoroughly examine your ankle to provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Request your appointment now.