Ankle Sprains Require Proper Treatment
An ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries seen by foot doctors. They often occur without warning when you wrong foot yourself while stepping over a curb, exercising, or playing sports. When your foot rolls over with your full body weight behind it, the bones, ligaments, and tendons that hold the ankle joint together become stretched and damaged, causing severe pain, swelling, and extreme difficulty walking on the affected foot.
Treatments for an ankle sprain include the following:
- RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation)—As soon as you notice an ankle injury, it is best to stop what you are doing to avoid causing any further damage. Employ the RICE protocol to minimize further injury and better see the extent of the damage. Make an appointment to see your foot doctor.
- Inspection, imaging, immobilization—Your foot doctor will perform a mechanical exam, and x-rays or other imaging studies may be necessary to determine the severity of the injury. They may prescribe a rigid walking boot to immobilize the ankle while healing occurs.
- Physical therapy—After the lengthy initial healing process, you will need to slowly incorporate strengthening and flexibility exercises to slowly rehabilitate the ankle joint without causing another injury. Your foot doctor can help design an appropriate program for you.
- Severe injuries may require ankle surgery—When bones and soft tissues are damaged, surgery may be required, followed by a long recovery and extensive physical therapy.
A poorly treated ankle sprain is much more likely to be reinjured, so see your foot doctor for the proper care. The foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists, in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County Arizona, have unparalleled experience in treating all aspects of foot and ankle care. Our team of doctors, including Christopher M. Funk, D.P.M., FACFAS, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, and Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, is dedicated to serving you with state-of-the-art, cutting edge medical technologies including the PinPointe FootLaser, custom-fitted orthotics, and Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT) for chronic foot, heel, or ankle pain. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please call (520) 575-0800.
