Sprained Ankles: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

What is a Sprain and the Treatment

Your ankle is so painful you can hardly bear weight. You are unsure of what you did wrong. Don't take foot and ankle injuries lightly. Our experienced, skilled, and licensed doctors at Foot and Ankle Clinic in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Rice Lake, Menomonie, Stanley, Shell Lake, and Cumberland, WI, want to help you with your foot and ankle pain.

What is a Sprain?

How a Sprain Happens 

This common injury occurs when you jar-roll-twist your foot, causing a stretch or tear in the tissue that attaches to your bone. Don't confuse this injury with a fracture, as a sprain does not involve damaged bones. 

The Foot and Ankle Clinic explains that a sprain happens at any age when you fall or trip on uneven surfaces/lose your balance/jump/land incorrectly/or participate in active sports such as soccer/football.

After your injury, you can see some or all of the following signs or symptoms in your foot.

• Swelling and Bruising
• Difficulty walking
• Tenderness
• Pain when applying weight on your foot

Diagnosing and Treating a Sprain

Our Foot and Ankle Clinic doctors in WI will physically examine your ankle to determine your foot and ankle pain. An X-ray will give our doctor a definitive diagnosis. All podiatry doctors use a grading system to grade your sprain. 

Grade 1 is a mild sprain - you slightly stretch the ligaments or have a small tear. There may be slight swelling or tenderness at the site. 

Grade 2 is a moderate sprain - you partially tore the ligament with more swelling, and it will hurt to move. 

Grade 3 is a severe sprain - you completely tore the ligament, causing severe swelling, pain, and difficulty walking. 

You must support the signs/symptoms of the sprain. Take ibuprofen for swelling and follow the RICE protocol for recovery. 

• You must rest and have your ankle elevated. 
• Ice at most 20 minutes/rest time in between. 
• An ankle brace or ankle wrap to compress the area, thus decreasing swelling. 
• Elevate your ankle with pillows so that it's higher than your heart to decrease swelling. 

You may also need crutches or a walking boot to protect your ankle. As for prevention, it is hard to prevent an accident, but watching where you are walking and taking extra care during sports would help to prevent foot and ankle injury and pain. 

Call for Your Appointment Today

Call any of our four podiatry doctors for foot and ankle pain. The Foot and Ankle Clinic will give you quality healthcare. They have office locations in Eau Claire, Chippewa, Menomonie, Stanley, Shell Lake, Cumberland and Rice Lake, WI. Call (800) 359-4421 or (715) 235-4274 today to schedule an appointment. You can also visit our website at www.footankle-clinic.com/