People are always working out, whether it’s running, walking, or hitting the gym. And now more than ever, Americans are seeking out different ways of getting their exercise in while we socially distance. But with home gyms on the rise and a lot of people having to exercise solo, comes injuries. Read on to find out about the types of ankle sprains you may experience while working out, and where you can go in Celebration, Florida, to find relief.
How Often Do People Get Injured?
You may be surprised to learn that ankle sprains are the most common athletic injury, and the number one reason why people see their orthopedist. It is a relatively easy injury to get, with 30,000 Americans experiencing some form of a sprained ankle everyday. Basketball is estimated to account for almost 13% of musculoskeletal injuries. High ankle sprains, though, are a little different as they affect different ligaments than a traditional ankle sprain, and are less common.
Old, conventional thinking on ankle sprains has led physicians to seek more conservative medical approaches in healing and treatment. The adage of “rest and relaxation” has unfortunately shown an increase in issues rather than in resolutions. A study has found that 10-40% of ankle sprains have developed into persistent symptoms after the initial injury. If you had underlying cartilage damage or dislocated tendons before or at the start of your ankle sprain, it may increase your chances of distant symptoms or chronic ankle sprains.
Types of Ankle Sprains
There are two distinct classifications of sprains, the anatomic and the functional. Anatomic is the severity level of damage to tissues in the ankle. Functional is the level an injury affects a person’s ability to walk or put weight on the ankle.
Anatomic injuries are graded on three levels of severity. The first level or Grade I sprain, is where the lateral ligaments are strained or overstretched. A Grade II sprain involves partial tearing of one or several of the lateral ligaments. And Grade III sprain is a complete rupture or tear of one or more of the lateral ligaments.
Functional injuries are also graded on three levels of severity, but are more involved in your movements than what is actually injured. For a Grade I injury, you are able to walk and put full weight on your ankle. A Grade II injury leaves you walking with a noticeable limp. And for a Grade III injury, you are not able to walk at all.
Treatments
The most important line of treatment immediately after a sprain is to reduce the swelling. Icing your ankle sprain with a compressive wrap for at least twenty minutes twice a day can aid in the healing process and protect your ankle while it is in a vulnerable and weak state. Reducing the swelling while still in the healing process will also help in healing your ligaments into their proper locations. If your ankle is too swollen, your ligaments will end up healing in a stretched-out position, which makes them less functional.
More often than not, undergoing a non-operative treatment, even with a Grade III sprain, is equally effective than going with the operative treatment. Early functional rehabilitation remains a cornerstone in any non-operative treatment plan. These rehab methods include the RICE protocol, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), early range of motion exercises, and physical therapy. Most treatments vary in time, but for Grade I sprains, expect about 1-2 weeks for recovery, and for Grade III sprains, around 6-8 weeks.
Contact Us
If you experienced an ankle sprain, don’t ignore it or do the bare bones treatment. Seek out the best in orthopaedic and physical therapy treatments by calling Celebration Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute!
Helping with all types of ankle sprains, we can get you the best individual treatment plan in Celebration, Florida, and have you back on both feet in no time.