Ankle sprains can affect most people at any age. In most cases, the foot lands unnaturally and causes temporary pain, but in some cases, the injury can become more serious, and the pain lasts longer. Given that our ankles are used in almost every daily activity, this is very inconvenient.
2 Types of Sprains
The 1st thing to do is determine which of the two types of sprains you have. In an inversion sprain, you twist your foot, so it lands on your toes. This usually causes pain in the outside of the foot and the lateral ligaments of the ankle. 90% of ankle sprains are inversion.
Another type of sprain is known as a valgus sprain. As the foot lands, all the weight is on the inside of the foot, and up to three separate ligaments can be damaged. Valgus sprains are much less common than inversion sprains, accounting for only about 10% of all ankle sprains.
Degrees Of Injury
Sprained ankles may be labeled as grade one, two, or three. The grade is determined by searching at what number of ligaments had been injured within the sprain. Grade one is the least extreme diploma of damage and is the very best to care for. An affected person must method a grade one sprain with the R.I.C.E. tips. Following stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
Rest:As you will expect, step one in treating a sprained ankle is to allow it rest. Take the load off it, attempt now no longer to transport it too much, and do not forget crutches if the ache is terrible enough. Don’t try and just “suck up” the ache and resume your ordinary activities, as this could handiest make matters worse.
Ice: The 2nd step is to apply ice or a chilly % at the affected area. Put a few ice in a kitchen towel and vicinity it at the foot for approximately 20 mins. Do now no longer vicinity the ice immediately onto your skin, and do now no longer exceed 20 mins at a time. This will assist lessen swelling.
Compression: The 1/3 step is to compress the area. Using some thing like an ankle brace can assist with swelling, ache, and restoration time with the aid of using each constricting motion and presenting aid to the injured area. Compression isn’t usually essential in treating a grade one sprained ankle, however it’ll make restoration simpler and faster.
Elevation:The very last step of the R.I.C.E. tips is to raise the foot, ideally to above-coronary heart level. The satisfactory manner to do that is with the aid of using mendacity down on a sofa or mattress with the foot resting at the armrest or footboard.
A 2nd-degree sprain requires almost the same care as a 1st-degree sprain, but it takes longer. Compression is a much more critical factor in second-degree sprains than in first-degree sprains, and the doctor can somehow immobilize the area so that the process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Grade 3 is the most severe type of ankle sprain, meaning permanent ankle problems can develop if the injury is not treated properly. If you have a third-degree sprain, you should listen to everything your doctor says. Depending on the degree of injury and the degree of physical activity, a cast may be placed or surgery may be selected. Athletes may need surgery, but for others, a slow, less invasive recovery may be more appropriate. Because these sprains can vary significantly from case to case, It is essential to consult your doctor to find the best treatment plan.