All About Ankle Injuries
Ankle strains, sprains, and fractures are some of the most common podiatry issues we run across. Ankle injuries are common in athletes and those who love to exercise, but they can happen to anyone. Tripping, walking, or falling on an uneven surface can easily result in a sprain. While ankle injuries aren’t always unavoidable, there are some precautions you can take and plenty of ways to easily treat them if they show up. How can you tell the difference between injuries? When should you see a podiatrist? Keep reading to find out.
Strains vs Sprains vs Fractures
What’s the difference? Some of the symptoms might overlap, but the severity of your pain will generally be the determining factor. Strains occur when your tendons and muscles are stretched too far, while sprains deal with overstretched ligaments. Fractures happen when there’s a partial or complete break of a bone in your ankle.
Strains create mild to moderate pain, swelling, possible muscle spasms, and you can usually treat them at home!
Sprains will usually give you moderate pain, swelling, bruising, limited range of motion, difficulty moving, and may be successfully treated at home, but could require the help of a podiatrist. If your ankle still hurts after a few days of at-home treatments, it’s time to call your foot doctor!
Fractures require immediate attention, as the pain can be severe and debilitating. If you have swelling, and bruising, and are unable to put much weight on your ankle, you likely have a fracture. The severity of your ankle injury usually determines your treatment plan!
Preventing Ankle Injuries
Because you can injure your ankle in plenty of ways, sometimes avoiding an injury is close to impossible. Accidents do happen! But there are some cases in which you can successfully dodge an injury. This is especially true for athletes.
Ensuring that you warm up properly before any activity, not pushing yourself if you’re already injured or tired, and stretching efficiently are all great ways to avoid ankle injuries. If you find that you hurt your ankle frequently, you may want to look into strength training for your ankle muscles. Additionally, ensure that you’re wearing proper footwear with enough ankle support!
At The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine, Dr. Jonathan Levy, Dr. Nadia Levy, Dr. Diane Castro, Dr. Josef Geldwert, Dr. Katherine Lai, and Dr. Vera Malezhik treat various conditions. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, we offer cutting-edge care for patients in Midtown East and Manhattan. Contact our office at (212) 980-6487. Our office is at 120 E 56th Street, Suite 1150, New York, NY 10022. We continue to offer telemedicine appointments.
