How Do Ankle Injuries Occur?
A sprained ankle occurs when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way. It can stretch or tear the tough ligaments that hold your ankle bones together. It is a traumatic injury and will manifest some symptoms.
Symptoms of an Ankle Sprain
Symptoms of a sprained ankle may vary depending on the severity of the injury. They may include:
● Pain and tenderness
● Swelling and bruising
● Restricted range of motion
● Balance and instability
● Popping or grating sound during injury
A severe ankle sprain can manifest most or all of the above symptoms. Most of the time, self-care measures and over-the-counter pain medications may not be enough and a medical evaluation might be necessary to reveal how badly you’ve sprained the ankle and to determine the appropriate sprained ankle treatment methodology.
Ankle Sprain without Swelling or Bruising
Sometimes, a person may have a mild ankle sprain that can occur during the course of a regular day, due to:
● A misstep
● Stubbing the feet against something hard
● Slipping on wet floor
● Tripping on a carpet or rug
● Wearing ill-fitting shoes
These kinds of small accidents could cause a slight sprain which may strain the ligament and stretch it a bit, causing pain, but it may not be bad enough to cause bruising or swelling. But the sprain should not be ignored because there are no outward symptoms.
It is better to be safe than sorry and follow the below-mentioned pointers to ensure that the pain goes away and the ankle heals well.
● Rest the ankle
● Elevate it
● Apply ice
● Strap it when using the leg, for support
● Apply topical painkillers
A mild sprain should respond to these treatments and should become better in a couple of days. But if it doesn’t get better, it is important to consult a podiatrist and check if any further treatment is necessary.