The ankle sprain is the most common sports injury and generally occurs in activities which involve running and jumping (i.e. basketball, soccer and volleyball). Ankle sprains are generally classified in 3 categories:
Grade I These involve a stretched ligament with minimal swelling and pain.
Grade II A partial tear of the ligaments occurs with moderate pain and swelling.
Grade III Complete tear of the ligament with instability, frequent and disabling pain and marked edema (swelling) and discoloration.
Most patients will give a history of a "twisting" injury and will have difficulty weight bearing initially on the injured foot. Swelling will appear immediately or gradually over 3 to 4 hours. Other patients report they are "apprehensive" about bearing weight on the involved foot.
A sports medicine physician will usually order x-rays to confirm or rule out a broken bone and to evaluate for joint instability.
Generally, grade I or II sprains will be treated functionally with a brief period of controlled immobilization. Icing, elevation and compression are of paramount importance during the rehabilitation period. These components will aid in the reduction of the inflammatory response.
In a grade III sprain, casting or surgical repair are considered depending upon the severity of the injury. Grade I and II ankle sprains tend to recover within a short time frame and progress is usually noted within 2 weeks. A grade III ankle sprain will take a longer period of time to heal depending upon the severity of the injury. A strong rehabilitation program undertaken with care, patients may gradually resume normal activities over a 6 week period.
