An ankle sprain occurs when a person exaggeratedly twists or bends the ankle. This causes stretching or tearing of the ligaments, which help keep the ankle bones together, disabling the affected person for a certain time. This time, Dr. Clemente Aguilar, orthopaedic surgeon at Clinica Ricardo Palma, will give us information on this type of injury.

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms caused by an ankle sprain are:

• Pain that increases when supporting the foot
• Increased volume due to edema and hematoma
• Limitation of movements
• Feeling of instability

Causes

Among the most frequent causes are:

• Direct trauma during sports activities
• Landing badly after jumping or turning your foot
• Fall and poor foot support
• Running or exercising in uneven places

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the degree of injury. However, in general, the aim is to reduce pain and inflammation, help the ligament heal and restore joint function. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be required.

Prevention

To prevent this injury, the following is recommended:

• Perform exercises to strengthen the ankle and the muscles around it
• Wear suitable shoes that fix the ankle well
• Wearing an ankle brace when playing sports like running or jogging
• Avoid walking on uneven surfaces

It is advisable to treat the injury with a specialist, if we don’t treat it properly, things might complicate, causing pain and chronic edema, as well as instability of the ankle.

Dr. Clemente Aguilar
Orthopaedic Surgeon at Clínica Ricardo Palma