Do I have a Sprained Ankle?

An ankle sprain is usually caused by accidentally twisting or turning your ankle in an awkward way. Most of the time, the injury will resolve within a few weeks with the correct management and exercises.

Following an ankle sprain, it is very common to experience pain, swelling and bruising. The bruising may track down your foot, so don’t be alarmed if the injury appears to have affected more than just your ankle.

What is a Sprain?

A sprain injury occurs because one or more of these LIGAMENTS are over stretched, and in severe cases torn. It’s usually caused by a traumatic incident, such as a sudden change of direction while playing sport, or a slip off the edge of a curb.

The ankle is a complex joint, with the ability to hinge up and down, turn in and out, and rotate. The ankle gains its stability from the structural arrangement of the bones, and from the ligaments that connect the bones together.

Types of Ankle Sprains:

Lateral ankle sprain:

Most common type.
Caused from inversion roll of ankle (outwards, base of the foot is facing the other foot).
Includes the ligaments of anterior talofibular (ATFL), posterior talofibular (PTFL) and calcaneofibular ligaments (CFL).
Generally weaker ligaments.

Medial ankle sprain:

Less common type.
Caused from eversion roll of ankle (inwards, base of foot is facing away from the other foot).
Includes the deltoid ligaments, which are made up of anterior tibiotalar ligament (ATTL), posterior tibiotalar ligament (PPTL) and tibiocalcaneal ligament (TCL).
Generally stronger ligaments.

Degrees of Ligament Sprains:

– Grade 1 (mild): Slight stretching and microscopic tearing of the ligament fibers cause mild pain, swelling, and tenderness. Mobility is mostly retained, and recovery takes a few days to a week.

– Grade 2 (moderate): Partial ligament tearing results in moderate pain, swelling, bruising, and some joint instability. Mobility is reduced, with recovery taking several weeks to a few months.

– Grade 3 (severe): A complete ligament tear leads to severe pain, significant swelling, and extensive bruising with considerable instability. Mobility is substantially lost, and recovery can take several months, often requiring surgical intervention.

Treatment & Rehabilitation for Sprained Ankles:

RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) for the first 24-72 hours.
Tubi-grip or ankle support for initial injury (not for long term use)
Medications such as anti-inflammatories or pain killers for the first few days.
Gentle ankle stretching after the first few days.
Ergonomic (workplace) adjustments.
Osteopathic treatment : can include of manual therapy, prevention education and progressive exercise rehabilitation for balance and strength.

Can Osteopaths help Ankle Sprains?

If your still unsure of our role in your sprained ankle recovery, we offer free scheduled call backs from one of our Osteopaths, before booking in any Osteopathy appointments.

Yes! Any and all of our Osteopaths are qualified to help!

The following Osteopaths are particularly interested in treating and rehabbing ankle sprains.