You probably know the feeling: you’re walking down a flight of stairs and roll your ankle the wrong way. It can be such an awkward experience to roll your ankle, and you might even stumble or fall, adding to the embarrassment. In many cases, rolling your ankle leaves you feeling more embarrassed and uncomfortable than anything else. However, there are also times when you twist your ankle and suffer an ankle injury. Twisting your ankle might sound like something that goes away on its own, but there are also times when you may need to see a doctor. From a sprained ankle to ankle fracture treatment, your doctor can diagnose what type of ankle injury you’ve sustained and determine the best course of treatment for you.
Different types of ankle sprains and injuries have different healing times. If you recently injured your ankle and are wondering about sprained ankle recovery, then continue reading to learn more about what to expect with a variety of common ankle injuries.
Causes of Ankle Injuries
Ankle injuries are very common because they can happen to anyone. People of all ages can suffer an ankle injury like a sprained ankle from simply walking or jogging along uneven surfaces. A person can sprain their ankle after tripping, slipping, or falling down. Ankle injuries can also be caused by participation in sports that require a lot of leg and foot movement. Football, soccer, and hockey are some examples of sports that commonly cause ankle injuries because of the amount of agility required while playing the game. Sports like basketball and volleyball can also lead to ankle injuries when players jump and land poorly on their foot or land hard on the foot of someone else.
The most common reason why an ankle injury occurs is when the ankle joint is twisted or rolled forcefully, which can cause the ankle joint to move out of its normal position. People who have suffered an ankle injury in the past are also more susceptible to experiencing another ankle sprain in the future, especially if the previous injury didn’t heal properly.
How the Ankle Joint Works
The ankle is a hinged synovial joint, which means it moves primarily in an up and down motion. Three bones come together to make up the ankle joint: the talus, located above the heel of your foot, the fibula, which is the thin bone on the outside of your leg, and the tibia, or shin bone. A combination of tendons, ligaments, and muscles also surround and support, providing the stability and flexibility required to move and extend the ankle and foot. The musculoskeletal structure of the ankle allows for you to be able to move your foot up and down, and another joint is located just below the ankle joint and helps the foot move from side to side. Tough, moveable tissue makes up tendons that connect the bones in your leg to one another and to the foot through the ankle.
Types of Ankle Sprains
The most common type of ankle injury is the ankle sprain. There are three types of ankle sprains that refer to the severity of the injury and also correlate with an approximate healing time. Here are the three levels of an ankle sprain and what you can expect with each of these types of ankle sprain.
Mild Ankle Sprain
A mild ankle sprain refers to a small tear in one of the ligaments that supports your ankle and foot. Most people suffer an ankle sprain when their foot rolls inward, which causes damage to the ligaments along the outside of the ankle joint. A quick roll or twist of the ankle can lead to a mild ankle sprain, also known as a first degree or grade 1 ankle sprain. The approximate healing time for a mild ankle sprain is 3 to 5 weeks. A mild ankle sprain will typically cause some swelling and pain in the area, along with tenderness with certain ankle and foot movements for a few days to a few weeks.
Moderate Ankle Sprain
A moderate ankle sprain refers to an ankle injury where one of the ligaments is torn at least halfway. When more than 50 percent of the ligament is torn, also known as an incomplete tear, it can cause a temporary loss of mobility along with swelling, bruising, and pain. The ankle will be tender to the touch, and walking may be painful. A moderate ankle sprain is also known as a second-degree sprain or a grade 2 ankle sprain. The recovery time for a moderate ankle sprain is approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
Severe Ankle Sprain
A severe ankle sprain refers to an ankle injury where the ligament is completely torn and will cause serious symptoms and a much longer recovery period. Also known as a third-degree or grade 3 ankle sprain, a severe ankle sprain will cause severe swelling, intense joint pain, and joint instability. This type of ankle injury can cause difficulty with movements like walking and putting weight on your foot. The approximate healing time for a severe ankle sprain is anywhere from 3 to 6 months.
Low vs. High Ankle Sprain
The most common type of ankle sprain is a low ankle sprain, which refers to when you roll or twist your ankle inward and cause torn ligaments along the outside of the ankle. A high ankle sprain, however, refers to a less common though still serious ankle injury where the ligaments along the inside of your ankle become torn. A high ankle sprain can also impact bones and can occur along with an ankle fracture.
Other Ankle Injuries
Many ankle injuries can cause symptoms like pain, tenderness, swelling, and loss of mobility. Here are three examples of other ankle injuries with similar symptoms to a sprained ankle and how to tell the difference.
Ankle Strain
A sprain refers to an injury to the bands of tissue like ligaments that connect two bones together, while a strain refers to an injury to muscle or ligaments that connect a muscle to a bone. While an ankle sprain affects ligaments that connect the bones in your ankle and leg, an ankle strain is the term used to describe an overstretched muscle or tendon in the ankle area. An ankle strain is typically less severe than an ankle sprain or ankle fracture. This type of ankle injury can also cause muscle cramps in your feet, calves, and shins.
Ankle Fracture
An ankle fracture is also known as a broken bone that makes up the ankle joint and is the most severe type of injury to the ankle. If you have an ankle fracture, then you will likely experience pain and swelling, along with bruising and paleness around the ankle joint. An ankle fracture will also prevent you from moving your toes, and you may even experience numbness in your ankle and foot. In most cases, a person with a broken ankle will not be able to put weight on that foot.
Tendonitis
When one of the tendons in your ankle becomes inflamed, it can cause tendonitis of the ankle. Tendonitis most often occurs due to repetitive movements and overuse of the joint. The affected tendons help connect muscles to bones in your ankle and foot, and repetitive motions and pressure on the area can lead to tendonitis. People with flat feet can develop tendonitis along their inner ankle and experience pain and swelling.
Treatment Options for a Sprained Ankle
Depending on the severity of your ankle injury, there are several treatment options available to help manage and relieve your pain and other symptoms. Here are treatment options for a sprained ankle and other types of ankle injuries.
R.I.C.E.
R.I.C.E. refers to Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This technique is a helpful reminder to rest the injured area as soon as possible and help treat pain and inflammation. Applying ice to the injured ankle can help reduce swelling and inflammation. Ice also acts as a natural pain reliever, offering temporary relief. Compression can look like wrapping the ankle or wearing a brace to help provide your ankle with support and stability during the healing and recovery process. Finally, it is helpful to elevate the foot by propping it up on a chair or pillows to help minimize swelling by lifting the ankle level to or above your heart, which slows blood flow to the area.
Rehabilitation
During the first few days or weeks after an ankle injury, you may be able to return to your regular activities, depending on your pain and other symptoms. Your Atlanta orthopedic doctor may also recommend an immobilization device like a brace or boot to help stabilize the joint and support the ankle while you walk. Part of the recovery and ankle rehabilitation process after an ankle injury like a sprained ankle will involve gently reintroducing weight-bearing stretches and exercises to your routine. Your doctor will help develop a treatment plan that is appropriate for you and your specific ankle injury. For example, a low ankle sprain recovery time may require a different level of rehabilitation than a grade 1 rolled ankle recovery time.
Physical Therapy
Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy after an ankle sprain to help you rebuild strength and restore the range of motion in your ankle. An Atlanta physical therapist can work with you through stretches and exercises that will progressively reintroduce typical movements and activities to the affected ankle. You will also learn how to safely and effectively warm-up before exercising or participating in sports and other activities so that your ankle is properly supported going forward. Going to physical therapy can help speed up the recovery process after an ankle injury and also help prevent any recurrence of an ankle sprain or ankle injury.
Orthopedic Surgery
In some cases, surgery may be recommended or required to heal an ankle injury. A high ankle sprain may cause too much separation between bones and require corrective surgery. If you do require orthopedic surgery for a severe ankle sprain or ankle fracture, then you may need to wear a boot or cast for a few months as part of your recovery process, as well as attend physical therapy to help you recover after your surgery.
Importance of Treatment for Ankle Injuries
You should always talk to your doctor if you suspect you have sprained your ankle or suffered another type of ankle injury. Trying to tough it out or walk it off can end up causing more damage to overstretched and torn soft tissues. When an ankle sprain or other type of ankle injury doesn’t heal properly, it makes you more likely to suffer another ankle injury in the future. The way your ankle heals after an injury will affect the stability of your ankle joint going forward. When you see a doctor for an ankle sprain, they will not only help you with pain management and determining the right treatment for you, but they will also help with preventing future ankle injuries.
Healing Time for Ankle Injuries
If you injured your ankle, then talk to your doctor about what to expect with healing time. For example, a doctor may say that your sprained ankle healing time will be approximately 1 to 3 weeks because you have a grade 1 or mild ankle sprain. If you are in excruciating pain and unable to put weight on your foot or walk around, then you will want to see a doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will be able to determine if you are dealing with an ankle sprain vs. an ankle fracture since the symptoms are relatively similar, and they will determine the best course of treatment based on your diagnosis. The healing time for ankle injuries will include the time it takes for the stretched, torn, and inflamed soft tissues to heal and recover. Ligament healing after an ankle sprain will take different lengths of time depending on the severity of your injury, so be sure to see a doctor right away so you can know when it is safe to start moving around again without the risk of reinjuring the ankle.
Visit AICA Orthopedics to learn more about our multi-specialty team of doctors and how they can help you with any type of ankle injury.
Sources
- Hubbard, T. J., & Hicks-Little, C. A. (2008). Ankle ligament healing after an acute ankle sprain: an evidence-based approach. Journal of athletic training, 43(5), 523–529. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-43.5.523
- Sujitkumar, P., Hadfield, J. M., & Yates, D. W. (1986). Sprain or fracture? An analysis of 2000 ankle injuries. Archives of emergency medicine, 3(2), 101–106. https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.3.2.101
- Mattacola, C. G., & Dwyer, M. K. (2002). Rehabilitation of the Ankle After Acute Sprain or Chronic Instability. Journal of athletic training, 37(4), 413–429.
