According to statistics, there are about 25,000 people suffering from sprained ankles daily. Though this is very common among athletes, it is also very much possible for non-athletes, both adults and children alike, to suffer from a sprained ankle.

The ankle can be sprained when a ligament is injured, which is often caused by excessive stretching or an unnatural twisting motion of the foot. The strong bands of tissue composing the foot, called as the ligaments, function to attach one bone from the other, and it is said that the lower leg is the part of the body that is commonly injured. In fact, it is estimated that there are around one million people, in the US alone, who visit the doctor annually to have their acute ankle injury treated.

Ankle sprains, as mentioned earlier, is a typical type of sports injury but it is also possible for you to twist or injure your ankle while doing everyday activities, like when you get out of bed or have a walk outside your home.

Common Causes of Sprained Ankles

Ligaments on the foot can be injured when excessive force (greater than what is acceptable) has been applied to them. The main function of ankle ligaments is to hold the joint and bone in position. Their role is to protect the ankle joint from twisting, rolling, turning and other abnormal movements that may injure it. Although ligaments are very elastic, they can be stretched beyond their limits, and this is when a sprain develops.   When the ankle ligament is forcefully stretched or twisted this causes tearing to its elastic fibers. This usually occurs when the foot has been accidentally turned or inverted from its normal position. This particular type of ankle injury can occur when:

• The foot is planted awkwardly when doing simple tasks (i.e. going out of bed), running, or when stepping up and down.

• When someone accidentally steps on the other’s foot during a sporting event; like for instance in baseball when a player goes for a rebound and then lands on his opponent’s foot by accident, which causes the rebounder’s foot to roll inwards.

• Stepping on a hole or any irregular surface

• Losing balance while wearing high heels

• Slipping

Symptoms of Ankle Sprains

When you sprain your ankle, you will typically hear a popping or snapping sound. You may also experience a feeling of ‘giving away’ which may indicate that you might have torn a ligament or cracked a bone. If the ankle is sprained, you will have a difficult time moving it as pain intensifies with every movement. In cases of severe ankle sprain, you won’t be able to exert force or put on weight to the injured foot. Sprains can also be accompanied by swelling and bruising, particularly in severe cases. Swelling can occur soon after the ankle is sprained while bruising usually appears twenty four hours after the injury.

Mild ankle sprain injuries do not necessarily require immediate attention, and it will normally heal itself without having to seek medical assistance. However, there are also cases that surgery or medications will be needed to fully treat the injury. Therefore, whether you require medical treatment or not will depend on how severe your ankle injury is.  To be on the safe side, you should visit a specialist to have your sprained ankle checked and examined to know how badly you injured yourself. Depending on the symptoms and the results of the test, the doctor will likely prescribed you with medications and teach you some effective self-help treatments. If the doctor suspects that a bone is damaged, an X-ray test will be ordered and specific treatments will be administered once this has been confirmed.

Applying ice packs, resting the injured ankle, compressing the area using a bandage and performing ankle exercises are great self-help treatments that will help restore the normal range of movement of the injured foot.