The danger of ankle sprain, you must not ignore

  Ankle sprain is a laceration of the soft tissues around the joint, such as the joint capsule, ligaments and tendons, when the joint suddenly moves to one side under the action of external force and exceeds its normal mobility. The injury is often characterized by local swelling, pain, restricted movement, and in severe cases, even fracture. In mild cases, only part of the ligament fibers are torn, while in severe cases, the ligament may be completely ruptured or the bone at the attachment of the ligament and joint capsule may be avulsed, and even joint dislocation may occur.  As the quality of life improves, the amount of exercise increases. Many cases of ankle sprains can often be found around us; according to the American literature there is an annual incidence of 0.7%, which is quite a high number. But the most important problem we find is not how high the incidence is, but rather: we don’t pay enough attention to ankle sprains! The vast majority of patients go to the hospital, have an examination that reveals no fracture, and assume that there is no problem and continue to walk and move around – even many doctors think so too. Actually, they don’t!  We believe that, first of all, there is no doubt about the treatment of ankle sprains. Treatment such as joint braking and icing is essential! Secondly, and most importantly: even if we do not find a fracture, it is essential to check the extent of ligament damage and the condition within the joint. This is very crucial. Why is that? Many patients who get better from their first sprain will continue their previous exercise. However, they slowly feel pain in the joint afterwards, and the joint cannot be made to work and is often sprained again. This is the result of ligament damage or impingement in the joint that has not healed since the first sprain. This is because ligament damage can lead to joint instability, which can lead to further joint damage and even joint degeneration and joint replacement. Therefore, we need to make a detailed diagnosis at an early stage, e.g. MRI to determine the condition of the ligaments and the joint, and to treat it actively.  Only by strengthening our awareness of self-protection will we be able to achieve better health.