Ankle sprains are a common occurrence and a common source of many questions. With this type of injury, there is “one treatment fits all.” Our practice sees many different degrees of ankle injuries, from very minor requiring simple treatment, to very complex and debilitating, requiring surgery. How do you know what to do when an ankle injury occurs? Below is a list of questions and answers which I hope will provide some guidance:

Q: I twisted my ankle and have pain, what should I do?

A: The mainstay in treatment with a minor ankle sprain is “RICE”. This stands for Rest, Icing, Compression and Elevation. It is important to reduce your level of activity following an injury to the ankle. Applying cold to the ankle will provide symptomatic relief and reduce the amount of swelling present. Compression applied with an ACE bandage and elevation above the level of the heart will further reduce swelling. Decreasing swelling will decrease pain and speed recovery of a sprained ankle. Applying these technique should promote complete recovery after a minor sprain in a couple of weeks.

Q: When should I have my ankle checked if I sprain my ankle?

A: If you cannot bear weight and stand on your ankle after twisting it you should be seen immediately. If you have significant bruising or if you have pain over the bones of the leg, ankle or foot you should be evaluated. Taking an x-ray of your ankle is important in this situation to rule out a fracture of the ankle.

Q: I twisted my ankle a couple of weeks ago and my pain has not gone away, what should I do?

Following trauma to the level of the ankle, other structures besides the ankle ligaments themselves can be affected. The peroneal tendons run on the outside of the ankle and if damaged can be mistakenly attributed to a common sprain. Pain on the inside of the ankle may indicate involvement of the posterior tibial tendon. Damage to this tendon usually accumulates over time and is highly influenced by a person’s foot structure. Persistent pain following an ankle sprain should be evaluated.

Q: I twist my ankle all the time, is there something I can do to prevent future sprains?

A: Absolutely, proprioceptive and strengthening exercises can be performed to decrease the occurrence of future ankle sprains. Physical therapy is a powerful option for providing the treatment needed to strengthen the ankle and train the brain to decrease sprain recurrence. An appropriate ankle brace can provide additional support to the ankle. Repeat ankle sprains can result in chronic damage to the ankle ligaments which in some cases may require surgical repair. An MRI is an imaging study which effectively shows the soft tissue structures around the ankle and can guide the treatment of chronic ankle pain following a sprain.

There is no reason to live with ankle pain. Call our office today for an evaluation at (812) 372-6274.

Ansgar S. Olsen DPM, PhD, AACFAS