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Sprain of the ankle
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Stretching of the ankle ligaments is a damage to the ligaments of the ankle, usually from the outside.
Both one and a group of ligaments of the ankle joint can be damaged. Women are more at risk of ankle injury.
[Causes of ankle sprain
What is a bunch? It is a cord that connects the bones and fixes the joint. The severity of the injury depends on how many fibers are affected. Bundles make the joint more stable. Traumatologists often encounter it with the sprain of the ankle. Most cases of stretching are associated with injuries in everyday life.
Stretching of the ankle ligaments is most often the result of an incautious turn. Injuries occur during competitions or when running on an uneven surface, at work, in winter when falling on the ice, when wearing shoes with high heels. For many athletes: football players, tennis players, paratroopers, this is a professional kind of injury, which they face more than once in their careers. Heavy stretching occurs in the case of an inadvertent landing on the feet. The person at the same time feels pain, the joint swells and it becomes difficult to walk.
Symptoms of ankle ligament sprain
Signs of stretching in many ways resemble bruises. Therefore, it is important to consult a traumatologist. If the ligaments are damaged, the pain and movement disorder are always more pronounced than with a bruise. Muscles always heal faster than ligaments, because they are well supplied with blood. Sprain is often combined with other injuries.
Stretching of the ankle ligaments manifests itself by pain, bruising, stiffness of the ankle joint, swelling in the stretch site. Painful sensations can grow gradually, and immediately after the injury not be pronounced. Partial rupture of the tendon can also be accompanied by a foot injury, if not started on time, there may be problems with recovery from injury. A doctor can prescribe an X-ray to clarify the diagnosis, exclude a dislocation, fracture and other concomitant ankle injuries. Even if you are not disturbed by severe pain in the ankle, consult a doctor, otherwise the habitual instability of the ankle joint may occur.
If you see a strong swelling in the rupture of ligaments, this may mean that a dislocation has occurred.
Sprain of ankle ligaments in a child
Stretching of the ankle joints is rare in very young children. In older children, this trauma occurs more often because of greater activity. Children who have a high arch of the foot, an imbalance in the development of muscles or a different length of the limbs, are more at risk of injury. At the initial degree of stretching, there is still no complete rupture of the ligaments, the attachment site of the ligament is usually slightly swollen. The second degree of stretching is already an incomplete rupture, in which the edema is more pronounced. Walking is difficult. And, finally, the third degree - the detachment of ligaments with a hematoma. The pronounced instability of the joint. The degree of severity of stretching is determined by the doctor, conducting special tests.
The limb must be immobilized. Fixation of the ankle joint is performed with a shin catch. The stack is retracted at an angle of 90 degrees.
The first two days of the limb need cold. With a significant pain syndrome and hemorrhage, joint puncture and gypsum application are necessary. Sprain in children always passes easier than in adults, because they have higher elasticity and ability to recover.
Diagnosis of ankle sprain
Sprain of the ankle can be diagnosed by a traumatologist using palpation. To exclude a fracture, an x-ray of the ankle or ultrasound may be given .
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Treatment of ankle sprain
The first help is to eliminate the squeezing of swelling with shoes or socks. The limb should be put on a raised platform and fixed with a tire from improvised materials. Strap the joint with cotton wool, tightly bandage, but not to white and blue, of course - the bloodstream in the limb should be free. Apply ice every 2 hours.
Stretching of the ankle ligaments is treated with rest for the limb, cold, applying a pressure bandage, physiotherapy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used. Ointments are effective in coping with stretching and the unpleasant symptoms associated with it. They have analgesic effect, relieve inflammation and swelling. Immediately after the injury, ointments are used for cooling, and during the rehabilitation period, they are warming up. The composition of cooling ointments includes analgesics, menthol, alcohol.
For example, menthol ointment can be used to treat stretch marks. It contains menthol, distilled water, wax and lanolin. Has a cooling effect. A small strip of ointment should be applied to the damaged area and rubbed. Use several times a day until the pain and swelling disappear completely.
It is very useful to go to the pool after the pain subsides.
In any case, timely examination will be the key to successful treatment. When pain is prescribed ibuprofen. Dosage for soft tissue injuries - 600 mg 2 times a day. A strong stretching of the ligament of the foot can end even worse than a fracture of the bone. Before the treatment of ankle ligaments, the degree of their trauma is always established. In light cases, it will be sufficient to apply an elastic bandage. If the average severity is damaged, immobilization is necessary until 3-4 weeks. Without treatment, ligament injury can result in chronic ankle instability.
Ointments with ankle sprain
Stretching of the ankle ligaments is successfully treated with ointment by Bohm Benge. The active substance of the ointment is menthol and petrolatum. Bohm Benge is an anti-inflammatory ointment. Apply it to the skin in the place of injury and rub. Allergy to menthol is possible.
Voltaren Emulgel - diclofenac ointment, used for rheumatism and sprains, inflammatory diseases of the joints.
Gevkamen - contains menthol, mustard and eucalyptus oil. Cools and improves circulation of the affected area.
Deep Relief - cooling ointment with ibuprofen with bruises and sprains.
Treatment of an ankle sprain
Stretching the ankle joints should be treated, providing him with peace and fixing it with a tire. Do not take a hot bath. Grate the raw potatoes and attach them to the ankle joint. Dilute the clay to the consistency of sour cream and attach to a sore spot. Apply to the ankle joint gruel from the leaves of aloe. With severe pain, you can take Ketanov. Dosage of the drug - 1 tablet 1 time in 8 hours. Do not take Ketanov for more than 3 days. May cause drowsiness, abdominal pain and diarrhea, dizziness and dry mouth. Contraindications: pregnancy, child age, asthma, stomach ulcer, marked renal failure. Take cautiously with heart failure.
Restoration after sprain of ankle ligament
Stretching the ankle joints is a trauma. Depending on the degree of stretching or rupture, the recovery period after it can last from 1 to 5 weeks.
The extremity is fixed by a bandage-toe or an orthosis with stiffeners. The damaged joint is lubricated with cooling ointments, for example, heparin.
Recovery from injury includes a mandatory set of exercises that helps restore muscle strength and avoid the development of serious complications, such as re-injury. Show thermal and electroprocedures, massage. Massage improves trophic tissue and metabolic processes in the joint. A magnet and ozocerite are useful.
Exercises with sprain of the ankle joints
LFK start to perform on the 3-4 day after injury.
- Freely move your toes.
- Stand up, get up on your toes, drop on your heels.
- Move by turning the heels inward.
- Move by turning the heels out.
A few days later, easy running at a slow pace is useful. Exercise in any case should not cause pain, but bring you pleasure. Doing these exercises shortens the time for recovery.
Physiotherapy with ankle sprain
Stretching of the ankle ligaments is an indication for the appointment of UHF. UHF - treatment by an electric field. Assign 10-15 sessions of 20 minutes. LFK and warm baths are also used. They have an analgesic effect. They use it 1 hour after a meal.
Prophylaxis of ankle sprain
Stretching of the ankle joints can be prevented if as little as possible to wear shoes with heels, for sports use high-quality comfortable shoes with good support for the ankle joint. The activities of physical education and sports also serve as excellent preventive measures - they strengthen the muscles and ligament apparatus.
Prognosis of ankle sprain
If treatment is started on time, the prognosis is favorable. Accurate adherence to the recommendations of an orthopedist traumatologist will quickly help you get back on track.
Stretching of the ankle ligaments can be both lightweight and significantly interfering with daily work, and sometimes just walking. In any case, every person who has received an ankle injury should be examined by a doctor first of all in order to exclude a fracture and make an operation in time, if needed.
Hospital with ankle sprain
If you have an ankle sprain, and you are shown treatment at home, you will be discharged from hospital for 7-10 days. At the third degree of stretching, when the ligament is completely ruptured or torn off, surgical treatment can be indicated. In this case, the doctor must write you a sick leave for the entire period of rehabilitation.