What causes a sprained ankle?
There are many causes of sprained ankles, but all of them involve a strain or pressure on the ankle's structures that cause the ligaments connecting the bones to stretch and sometimes tear. Many sprains occur when the ankle rolls outward (called an “inversion” injury) or outward (called an “eversion” injury) which damage the ligaments on the outside or inside of the ankle. Less commonly, the ligaments of the lower leg become injured, resulting what's known as a “high ankle” sprain.
What is an overuse injury?
An overuse ankle injury is one that occurs as a result of repeated motion, such as occurs when the ankle is repeatedly placed under stress from jumping, running or other repetitive motion.
What are the symptoms of a sprain or overuse injury?
Most people experience pain in the ankle area as soon as the injury occurs. Pain is often followed by swelling and tenderness in the area surrounding the ankle, and in some cases, bruising or discoloration can also develop. Some patients experience a burning, tearing, “popping” or “snapping” sensation. More severe injuries, like major tears of the ligament, usually cause much more significant symptoms. But even when symptoms are mild, it's still important to have the sprain evaluated by a podiatrist to avoid more serious issues including gait issues and ankle weakness that can result in future injuries.
How will Dr. Matika determine if I have a sprain or overuse injury?
Dr. Matika will ask about how the injury occurred and whether or not you've had previous injuries to the ankle. Then she'll perform a visual exam of the foot, ankle and lower leg to look for signs of swelling and will ask you to move your ankle to determine what type of motions cause pain to occur. X-rays may also be ordered to rule out a fracture.
