Why do People get Ankle Sprain Injuries so often - Do they do something Wrong?
Monday, April 12, 2010
We so often get these ankle sprains. An injury quite easy to dismiss as it is very similar to the harmless twisted ankle. But remember, a twisted ankle isn't a minor thing. Most people need to understand the nature of this injury. If you properly take care of the ankle sprain, you won't be a victim to poor ankle health, and repeated episodes of ankle pain. Studies show that daily more than 20,000 people from USA alone get this injury.
I am no different from the rest of the US population. The first time I sprained my ankle was some years ago when I just got married. It was very early in the morning. I was a bit tired and sleepy and the lack of attention as I was stepping through the leaves from my garden caused me to slip on muddy patch. This is how I twisted my foot for the first time. I still remember: at first all seemed ok; but rapidly as time passed things took a strong turn for the worst. My foot became swollen and I felt terrible pains at my ankle very shortly. I rushed to the hospital and I got there just in time.
Another time, I accidentally twisted my ankle while at the airport. The doctor there advised me to keep the ankle elevated and on ice for more than a few hours; I barely went to bed having my ankle elevated. To my own surprise the following morning brought only good news. I felt so good that I wanted to go on a walk in the woods.
What someone can learn from my stories: My initial reaction to the first ankle sprain was wrong because, as the doctor also recommended, a twisted ankle needs to be treated with immediate rest and a generous pack of very cold ice. The doctors strongly advise against waiting for the swelling to cripple you.
Another lesson to be learned is that the way I treated the second sprain was also wrong. The moment I felt the pain was gone, I immediately forgot the previous incident and I thought I could do just about anything to my foot. I could have easily permanently injured my foot. Ankle sprains are injuries that we get over and over again our whole lives through.
People love to rest, and sometimes they even hate exercise. The right approach in case of an ankle sprain is to keep people off their feet in order to allow the healing process to take place. We end up giving ourselves very little rest after a sprain. This goes to support the study that one of three sprain victims will go on to develop serious ankle related disorders later in life. The best way to go about treating an ankle sprain is composed of a series of steps. First of all if it is a simple ankle sprain the twisted ankle should be completely immobilized and rested. In case you have a severe one, doctors recommend at least two weeks of rest. Athletes are known to ignore this very basic seat of health rules.
Getting back to our main topic: the ankle sprain or the sprain of the ankle joint. This zone of the body is a particularly complex one; all the small bone structures in the assembly, are held together by what is a complex series of ligaments, fibers of connective tissue.
The ankle sprain happens when the ankle is forced in one direction all of the sudden with a sufficient pressure. This is when few of the feet ligaments get stretched too hard, and tear somewhat. The sprain usually happens when you're climbing down the stairs.
Again, the best way to treat it is as soon as possible. First get off your foot and take some rest. Ask for help from a friend and give it a cold compresses with an ice pack. Once you're done applying the cold compress elevate your foot and rest it completely for a day or two. Always ask for the professional opinion (doctor's advice) and take an anti-inflammatory drug. In case you completely teared off a ligament you should know that it might heal on its own too without recourse to surgery but in order to avoid any possible complications ask for a doctor's point of view.
