In training we often hear people say, “I’ve sprained my foot.” This is actually an ankle sprain. Ankle sprain is one of the most common sports injuries. Data show that it accounts for 20% to 40% of all sports injuries. Ankle sprains are mostly due to excessive stretching or tearing of the ligaments around the ankle joint, and in serious cases, they can be accompanied by avulsion fracture. Since the ankle joint is an important pivot and load-bearing joint for human movement, its status directly determines the quality of human life and sports. So, why is the ankle more prone to injury? What should be done after the injury? Will there be any after-effects? Is it just like what many people think, “It doesn’t matter, just rest for a few days and you’ll be fine”? The ankle joint is easy to be sprained because of the function of the ankle joint and its anatomical structure. Ankle joint in plantarflexion (that is, we do tiptoe this action), often the foot will be turned inward, that is, the heart of the foot turned inward. Due to the unique anatomical structure of the ankle joint, the ankle joint cannot match well and is in an unstable state of “more flexibility, less stability”. Therefore, if we lose our balance during ankle plantarflexion (e.g. going down stairs, descending a hill, landing after jumping, etc.), it will easily cause inversion of the joint, resulting in inversion injury of the ankle, i.e. lateral ankle sprain. Statistics show that lateral ankle sprains account for about 85% of the total number of ankle sprains. At this time, the soft tissues in the ankle joint are squeezed and impacted, resulting in cartilage surface damage, synovial membrane swelling, and swelling and bruising around the ankle joint. If proper treatment is not carried out in time, the lateral support strength of the ankle joint decreases and the proprioception of the joint decreases. In this way, the instability of the ankle joint will be aggravated, and the ankle joint will be easily sprained again, with chronic symptoms such as pain, swelling, and instability in walking, which can cause other joint injuries and chain reactions. 1, how to prevent ankle sprain 1) is usually pay attention to the muscle strength around the ankle joint and proprioception training; 2) is the movement before the adequate preparatory activities; 3) is appropriate to reduce the amount of exercise; four is the movement of the choice of shoes with soft soles of high-top shoes, elastic bandage or semi-hard support. 2, how to determine the degree of ankle sprain Acute sprain patients are mostly manifested as pain, subcutaneous bruising; serious synovial or cartilage damage, manifested as swelling and pressure pain around the ankle joint, ankle joint activity is limited. When ligament tear or fracture occurs, the pain and swelling are more obvious on the injured side or fracture end of the ankle. The joint capsule of patients with repeated injuries tends to be lax, and it is easy to follow cartilage damage, synovitis, osteochondritis dissecans and other injuries to the joint surface, and there is chronic pain, tenderness and swelling on the injured side or in the joint, and there is a sense of insecurity and weakness in the legs when wearing high heels or walking on uneven roads. Many patients are so disturbed that they have to wrap thick bandages and braces around the ankle joint to increase their sense of security. After ankle sprain, patients often need to take X-ray to exclude fracture, find the growth of bone, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can clearly show the cartilage, ligament and synovial membrane damage, combined with the medical history and physical examination, the doctor will be able to make a correct diagnosis, and be treated accordingly to eliminate the pain-causing factors, enhance the stability of the joints, and alleviate the symptoms. 3, how to cure the sprain Many people have a carefree attitude towards ankle sprains, thinking that “two days will be fine”. In fact, appropriate rest is needed, but not all the treatment. For patients who have not received regular treatment, the likelihood of re-injury of the ankle joint is three to four times higher than that of patients who have received regular treatment. If the injury does not involve ligamentous tissues, patients with first-time injury in the acute stage can receive regular conservative treatment under the guidance of specialists, and observe the principles of rest, ice, compression bandage, and elevation of the affected limb, and can obtain a satisfactory treatment result. In the acute stage, cold compresses can be applied within 24 to 48 hours, 10 to 20 minutes each time, once every 6 hours, and hot compresses for 2 to 3 days after 48 hours, in order to promote the absorption of local tissue exudate as soon as possible and reduce pain. If necessary, the ankle can be fixed and braked with adhesive tape for 2~3 weeks. Conservative treatment for chronic injuries is relatively ineffective. Improvement of pain and instability is the goal of treatment, and sometimes surgical reconstruction of ligaments is needed to improve the stability of the ankle joint; at the same time, minimally invasive ankle arthroscopy can be used to eliminate the pain-causing factors, such as synovitis, cartilage damage, or free bodies.