Ankle Sprain
What is it?
An ankle sprain is a common injury that results from twisting or turning the ankle past its normal range of motion. This results in stretching or tearing of the ligaments that provide support to the ankle. A ligament is a band of tissue that connects bones at the joint. Sprains can be caused by twisting your ankle either inverted (ankle rolls inward) or everted (ankle rolls outward). The injury may occur during a sport, while walking or any activity.
Why come to The Children’s Hospital for treatment of this condition?
Children’s has the only sports medicine program in Colorado that is focused solely on caring for young athletes. Our team of sports medicine experts understand the demands that sports programs place on school-aged athletes and the importance of customized, age-appropriate care. Since many young athletes are still growing, they need special kid and teen-specific treatment that takes this into consideration.
Our pediatric specialists are fellowship-trained in sports medicine, giving them the focused expertise that makes The Children's Hospital the best choice for young athletes looking to maximize performance after recovering from a sports injury.
What are the signs and symptoms?
- Pain, ranging from mild to severe
- Ankle joint swelling
- Bruising
- Loss of range of motion of the ankle
- Inability to walk
See what a sprained ankle looks like
How do you diagnose it?
Your physician can make a diagnosis by taking a complete history and performing a physical exam on the ankle. In addition, x-rays may be taken to rule out fractures and other complications.
Sprains are usually graded as I, II, or III depending on the severity:
- Grade I - minimal damage to ligament and patient has minor pain.
- Grade II - may have mild looseness of joint with some damage to joint. One may see a large amount of swelling and bruising. Patient has moderate pain.
- Grade III - complete tears of ligament and ankle may be unstable. Pain is severe and typically putting pressure on the ankle is not bearable.
How do we treat it?
Ankle sprains are treated by P.R.I.C.E. for the first few days following the injury and as needed while recovering.
- Protection - Immobilize the injured ankle to protect it from further injury. If necessary, your physician will place a cast or brace around your ankle.
- Rest - Avoid any activity that increases pain. You can use crutches if weight bearing is not comfortable.
- Ice - Applying ice to the injured ankle helps to reduce swelling, pain and bruising. Apply an ice pack to the ankle for 15 minutes at a time. Wait another 30 minutes and reapply. You should do this for the first 3 days following the injury and as needed after to control swelling.
- Compression - To reduce swelling and to provide stability you can wrap the ankle with an elastic bandage. Start the wrap at the toes and work up to the calf. The wrap should be tight, but not hinder circulation.
- Elevation - Raising ankle to or above the level of your heart will help reduce swelling.
Your physician will determine if formal physical therapy is needed for the patient to properly recover and safely return to sports. Stretches and exercises will be advised to help increase range of motion and restore strength to the joint. Your physician or physical therapist will release the patient to perform full activities once they have full range of motion of the ankle, minimal pain, full strength and can fully perform sport-specific skills.
Who gets it, and can it be prevented?
An ankle sprain is a common sports injury that is often seen in sports that require sharp, sudden twisting of the foot, such as soccer, basketball, football and tennis. Activities that are performed on an uneven surface, such as trail running, increase the risk of an ankle sprain.
Prevention of ankle sprains includes:
- Proper warm up prior to exercise or sport activity
- Using caution while performing any activity on an uneven surface
- Maintaining good muscle strength and flexibility
- Being properly conditioned and trained to participate in your sport
