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[ Ankle Sprains ]     [ Arch pain ]   [ Arthritis ]

ANKLE SPRAINS 

People who have lax ligaments or a history of trauma e.g. from twisting the foot, walking on uneven terrain or from a fall, are more prone to suffer from ankle sprains. Constant wear of high-heeled shoes can also increase the chances of having a sprain as the foot is less stable and can twist more easily. Sports that require side-to-side motion, e.g. football and tennis, also increases the chances of suffering an ankle sprain.

People with flat feet and high arched feet are also more likely to sprain their ankle, as the abnormal position of the joints of their feet destabilize the ankle, putting added pressure on the ankle ligaments. It is usually the weaker ligaments on the outside of the ankle that are sprained first.



A previous sprain usually leaves residual instability to the ankle, leading to recurrent sprains. In the acute phase, inflammation will be observed at the ankle area, that is, localised heat, redness, swelling and pain. The patient will feel like their weight is mostly on the outside of the ankle and the ankle is weak. Some may describe it as a feeling of the ankle ‘giving way’ during locomotion.

X Rays of the ankle are usually normal although bone spurs (abnormal bony outgrowths) are sometimes present.

Sprains may be resolved by a combination of the following treatments, depending on the severity of the sprain and the presence of an underlying biomechanical problem, lax ligaments or both. 

Acute phase