High ankle sprain treatments
- Ice. First, your doctor may advise you to ice your ankle every few hours for about 20 minutes at a time.
- Compression. Wrapping your leg with a light compression bandage and elevating it, in addition to icing, can also help...
- Anti-inflammatory and pain medication. Taking anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medicines like naproxen (Aleve) or...
How long for a high ankle sprain to heal?
Jan 21, 2021 · Although the treatment for a high ankle sprain follows the same principles as the treatment for a regular ankle sprain, the time frame may be much longer. Partial syndesmosis ruptures are treated with immobilization in a walking cast or boot for a minimum of two weeks and longer if necessary depending on the severity of the injury.
How to rehabilitate following a high ankle sprain?
Surgical Treatment In cases of malreduction the medial aspect of the ankle and the deltoid ligament should be explored via arthrotomy All ligamentous or capsular debris is removed After proper reduction, the position of the fibula may be secured temporarily with a Kirschner wire
How to heal a high ankle sprain fast?
How is a high ankle sprain treated? You can begin treating your ankle injury by following the R.I.C.E. advice: rest, ice, compression (bandaging) and elevation (keeping your foot up) for about three to five days. You might need to use crutches when you need to move.
What is the normal recovery time for a sprained ankle?
The vast majority of high ankle sprains are treated conservatively (non-operatively) with splinting of the ankle to reduce motion of the painful joint. Elevation and icing to the ankle is helpful to reduce swelling. Icing should not be applied for any longer than 20 minutes as this may result in an increase in the amount of ankle swelling.
What is the fastest way to heal a high ankle sprain?
TreatmentRest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake. ... Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. ... Elevation.Apr 27, 2021
Can you walk with a high ankle sprain?
Sometimes, high ankle sprains can mean you need to use crutches or wear a boot that allows you to walk on your foot while also properly positioning the ankle and foot for healing. Strengthen. Physical therapy is also needed in many cases.Jan 8, 2019
How do you treat a high grade ankle sprain?
What is the usual treatment for a high ankle sprain? The vast majority of high ankle sprains are treated conservatively (non-operatively) with splinting of the ankle to reduce motion of the painful joint. Elevation and icing to the ankle is helpful to reduce swelling.
Should I go to the doctor for a high ankle sprain?
People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn't seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs. SooHoo and Williams say.
Is a high ankle sprain worse than a break?
Higher grade injuries can result in chronic joint instability and pain which may require surgical repair. A fracture is an injury to a bone when the tissue of the bone is broken. Many fractures will as strong as it was originally therefore, higher grade sprains can be worse than a fracture.
How painful is a high ankle sprain?
What are the symptoms of a high ankle sprain? You will typically feel pain that radiates up your leg from the ankle. Each step you take may be quite painful, and the pain is usually even worse if you move your foot in the same way as when the injury occurred.May 30, 2019
How long does it take to recover from a high ankle sprain?
Healing from a high ankle sprain can take anywhere from six weeks to three months — sometimes even more. Healing time depends on how badly you've injured the soft tissue and if there was any bone damage.Mar 11, 2021
What ligament is a high ankle sprain?
The connection of the two ankle bones (tibia and fibula) are formed by four ligaments called the syndesmosis. This is the ligament that is frequently injured in high ankle sprains.
How do you wrap a high ankle sprain?
1:353:28How to tape a high ankle sprain - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI'm going to put some tension through take the tension off and finish the spiral across the front.MoreI'm going to put some tension through take the tension off and finish the spiral across the front.
How do I know if I tore a ligament in my ankle?
If you have torn your ankle ligament, symptoms include:Swelling around your ankle joint.A feeling of instability.Bruising – sometimes up your lower leg and into your foot.Tenderness to touch.Pain when putting weight on your ankle.Popping sound at the time of injury.Mar 17, 2021
How should you sleep with a sprained ankle?
Elevating a sprained ankle reduces the accumulation of fluid in the joint. This can ease swelling, which may also help reduce pain. Try sleeping with the foot and ankle propped up on pillows at a level higher than the heart. When sitting or resting, use pillows or a footrest to keep the foot and ankle elevated.Nov 29, 2019
Does a high ankle sprain swell?
With a high ankle sprain there is often a minimum degree of swelling but unfortunately there tends to be more and longer lasting pain. The pain that occurs with this type of sprain will usually occur when the ankle is turned outward and will be noticed above the ankle.
What Is A Syndesmosis Joint?
A high ankle sprain usually occurs in combination with medial ligament injuries and/or distal tibia/fibula fractures. They are significant injuries...
Signs and Symptoms of A High Ankle Sprain
The difficulty with these types of injuries is that they are often associated with severe lateral or medial ankle sprains or fibular fractures. How...
Diagnosing A High Ankle Sprain
Because syndesmotic sprains can be associated with lateral ligament injuries, medial ligament injuries, and fractures of the fibula, x-rays of the...
Who Gets A High Ankle Sprain?
The incidence of a high ankle sprains has been reported to be as much as 10% of all ankle sprains. However, many times they go undiagnosed because...
Causes of High Ankle Sprain
The more serious ankle injuries often occur when an athlete lands on the foot of another athlete when returning back to the ground from a jump. The...
How Can I Help Prevent A High Ankle Sprain?
Because a high ankle sprain is a severe ankle injury, preventing a syndesmotic injury can follow the same principles as preventing a regular ankle...
High Ankle Sprain Treatment
Although the treatment for a high ankle sprain follows the same principles as the treatment for a regular ankle sprain, the time frame may be much...
High Ankle Sprain Recovery Time and Returning to Sport
It is important to understand that because the structures involved in a syndesmotic sprain can lead to instability of the primary ankle joint, reha...
What is a high ankle sprain?
A high ankle sprain is a significant injury and can sideline an athlete much longer than a typical ankle sprain. Ankle injuries are one of the most common injuries in sports constituting approximately 10% of all acute injuries that are treated by physicians. A sprained ankle can occur on the lateral side of the ankle which is (most common), the medial side of the ankle (least common) or can occur as a syndesmotic sprain when the ligaments between the distal tibia and fibula are injured, also known as a high ankle sprain.
How long does it take to recover from a sprain ankle?
ALL ANKLE SPRAINS ARE NOT THE SAME. Recovery from a mild ankle sprain may take several days whereas recovery from a severe high ankle sprain may take several months. In contrast, recovery from a partial syndesmosis rupture may take several months whereas recovery from a full rupture may take up to six months.
Why do we need a second opinion?
Getting a Second Opinion. A second opinion should be considered when deciding on a high-risk procedure like surgery or you want another opinion on your treatment options . It will also provide you with peace of mind. Multiple studies make a case for getting additional medical opinions.
What is syndesmosis fracture?
Syndesmosis ruptures are also associated with specific types of ankle fractures. Distal fibula fractures are associated with syndesmosis ruptures 50% of the time and are usually caused by external rotation of the foot/ankle.
What sports have ankle injuries?
Ankle injuries occur commonly in sports in which quick changes of direction are required (i.e., soccer, handball) or in which athletes need to jump and land in and around multiple athletes (rebounding in basketball, blocking in volleyball).
What material should ankle braces be made of?
Ankle braces made of only neoprene or other soft material do not provide enough support to prevent additional injuries.
Can a syndesmosis rupture be seen on an x-ray?
If the athlete has a total syndesmosis rupture, separation will be evident in the x-ray between the tibia, fibula, and talus.
What is a high ankle sprain?
The term “high ankle sprain” refers to an injury involving the ligaments on the inside of the ankle joint that occurs when the foot is forcibly turned outward from either a contact or non-contact injury. If the force is great enough, there is also damage to the ligaments spanning the lower leg bones – the tibia and fibula.
How long does it take for an ankle sprain to heal?
For those athletes who require surgery, sports activity can usually be resumed in approximately four months. Therefore, surgery for this injury typically results in an inability to return the same season. Once an athlete sustains an ankle sprain, he or she, unfortunately, is more prone to future injuries.
What are the ligaments of the ankle?
These ligaments are divided into two groups – the lateral ligaments located on the outside of the ankle, and the medial ligaments located on the inside of the ankle.
How long should I ice my ankle?
Icing should not be applied for any longer than 20 minutes as this may result in an increase in the amount of ankle swelling. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are usually prescribed to aid in pain control and swelling, though there is limited scientific evidence of the effectiveness of these drugs.
What is the purpose of ankle brace?
An ankle brace or taping of the ankle may help reduce the risk for recurrent injury once the athlete returns to sports .
What is the purpose of x-rays?
Plain x-rays are also necessary to rule out other injuries such as fractures of the ankle and/or foot. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be used to show more subtle signs of injury as well as to rule out other damaged soft-tissue structures such as ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
How long does it take to recover from a high ankle sprain?
In those cases in which a separation of the tibia and fibula or fracture has occurred and surgery is necessary, patients will likely need to be non-weightbearing in a cast followed by a walking boot for about 12 weeks. It is important to do early range of motion passively, meaning with the help of a physical therapist who moves the ankle, to help avoid stiffness. The screws commonly are removed in a second, small surgery before full weightbearing is allowed so they will not break.
What does it mean when your ankle is high?
Patients who have a high ankle ligament tear usually will have pain just above the level of the ankle, thus a "high" ankle sprain. They may also have tenderness over the deltoid ligament if they have a Maisonneuve injury, as noted above. It is important to touch the area to assess whether pain is just around the lateral ankle ligaments or higher.
Why is it important to have stability between the tibia and fibula?
It is important to have stability between the tibia and fibula at this level because walking and running place a tremendous amount of force at this junction. A high ankle sprain, also called a syndesmotic injury, occurs when there is tearing and damage to the high ankle ligaments. These injuries are much less common than a traditional ankle sprain.
Why does my ankle feel stiff after surgery?
Stiffness can occur in the ankle. If surgery is performed, one can have an infection or damage to one of the nerves that provides sensation to the top of the foot called the superficial peroneal nerve. This is because that nerve runs very close to the outside of the leg where the incision is commonly made .
What happens if you break your ankle?
If there is not an associated ankle fracture, patients may notice increased pain with activities that cause the ankle to be flexed up placing more stretch on the injured ligaments. Activities like climbing stairs are the most common as the ankle joint is loaded and the talus bone is driven upwards placing stress on the high ankle ligaments.
How long does it take to get back to normal after a sprain?
It can take up to 6-8 weeks to return to normal activity, but can sometimes take even longer.
Which ligaments allow movement of the tibia and fibula?
As noted above, the syndesmosis or high ankle ligaments connect the tibia and fibula and allow some rotation. There are three major components of this ligament complex. Ligaments connect bone to bone which prevents bones from moving away from each other and maintains normal movement between the bones, whereas tendons connect muscle to bone, allowing them to move parts of the body.
What is the best medicine for a sprained ankle?
In most cases, over-the-counter pain relievers — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) — are enough to manage the pain of a sprained ankle.
How to heal a sprained ankle?
approach for the first two or three days: Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake.
Why is balance and stability important?
Balance and stability training is especially important to retrain the ankle muscles to work together to support the joint and to help prevent recurrent sprains. These exercises may involve various degrees of balance challenge, such as standing on one leg.
What does a physical exam for a foot injury look for?
During a physical, your doctor will examine your ankle, foot and lower leg. The doctor will touch the skin around the injury to check for points of tenderness and move your foot to check the range of motion and to understand what positions cause discomfort or pain.
When is surgery performed on ankle?
In rare cases, surgery is performed when the injury doesn't heal or the ankle remains unstable after a long period of physical therapy and rehabilitative exercise. Surgery may be performed to:
How to stop swelling in ankle?
To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. Don't hinder circulation by wrapping too tightly. Begin wrapping at the end farthest from your heart. Elevation. To reduce swelling, elevate your ankle above the level of your heart, especially at night.
How to restore ankle range of motion?
Therapy. Once the swelling and pain is lessened enough to resume movement, your doctor will ask you to begin a series of exercises to restore your ankle's range of motion, strength, flexibility and stability. Your doctor or a physical therapist will explain the appropriate method and progression of exercises.
How long does it take for a sprained ankle to heal?
Healing from a high ankle sprain can take anywhere from six weeks to three months — sometimes even more. Healing time depends on how badly you’ve injured the soft tissue and if there was any bone damage.
What is the most common type of ankle sprain?
Low ankle sprains are the most common type of ankle sprain. They happen when you rotate or twist your ankle toward the inside of your leg, which causes the ligaments on the outside of your ankle to tear or stretch.
What is a high ankle sprain?
A high ankle sprain is an injury that involves a different set of ligaments than in the common ankle sprain. These ligaments are located above the ankle joint and between the tibia and fibula. They form what is known as the syndesmosis (pronounced "SIN-des-MO-sis"). When you bear weight on the leg, the tibia and fibula experience high forces ...
How long does it take to recover from a high ankle sprain?
High ankle sprain recovery time varies. Some people are able to return to their sports within six weeks , but about 50% will experience symptoms for as much as six months. Updated: 5/30/2019.
How to treat a swollen leg after a sprain?
Compression – Wrap the lower leg with an elastic bandage to minimize swelling, but not tight enough to cut off circulation.
Can a high ankle sprain cause swelling?
High ankle sprains do not typically cause a great degree of swelling or bruising. This can be frustrating to athletes and coaches, because a high ankle sprain generally does not “look that bad.”.
What are the bones that make up the ankle joint?
The ankle joint is formed by three bones in the lower leg: the tibia (shin bone), the fibula (the bone next to and parallel to the tibia in the outer calf), and the talus. These bones act together to form the ankle joint, which may sustain loads of up to three times a person’s body weight during normal daily activities.
What is the primary stabilizer of the ankle?
The ATFL is one of the primary stabilizers of the ankle and is frequently injured when an athlete internally inverts or “rolls” the ankle with excessive force. Athletes frequently will have pain, swelling and even bruising in more severe sprains.
Is ankle sprain a common injury?
Ankle sprains are common injuries. In fact, they are one of the most common injuries in the United States. But what is the difference between a common ankle sprain and a high ankle sprain? In addition, why must athletes who sustain high ankle sprains stop playing sports for a longer period of time than those with common ankle sprains?
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Therapies
- To alleviate pain and ease swelling and inflammation caused by a high ankle sprain over-the-counter pain medications should be adequate. Options include: 1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil or Motrin B (ibuprofen) 2. Tylenol (acetaminophen) 3. Aleve (naproxen) Yo…
Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures
- When a high ankle sprain is so severe the ankle is no longer stable, as in cases in which an affected ligament is completely torn, corrective surgery is usually necessary. The standard procedure for repairing and stabilizing a severe high ankle sprain involves placing one or two screws between the tibia and fibula to hold the two bones together, which relieves pressure on t…
A Word from Verywell
- A high ankle sprain tends to be more complicated and challenging to treat than a "regular" ankle sprain. These injuries are common among athletes who engage in high-impact sports such as football, hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. Players should be especially cautious about returning to their sport, waiting until their healthcare provider and/or physical therapist give them the green li…