Recovery after an ankle sprain

The bones of the leg and foot are connected at the joint - the ankle. This is a traumatic part of the body, the violation of which leads to disability, osteoarthritis. Restoration of the musculoskeletal system consists in the rehabilitation period, which includes: the use of medicines, exercise therapy, physiotherapy, etc. The duration of treatment depends on the age of the patient, the individual characteristics of the body, the degree of damage to the ligaments. Consider how to recover a leg after an ankle sprain.

Causes of sprains

• High physical activity leads to sprain injury. Strengthened sports put a huge load on the musculoskeletal system. Jumping, running, hitting are provoking factors for the appearance of injury.
• Excess weight leads to disruption of the circulatory system, reduces vigorous activity. The balance is broken. This leads to stress on the joints and ligaments.
• Uncomfortable shoes, high heels, and flat feet are risk factors for ankle sprains.
• The lower limbs are damaged due to the appearance of arthrosis, abnormal gait. It occurs more often in older people.

Symptoms of an ankle sprain

Ankle sprain is detected based on injury indicators:

• sharp pains appear in the injured leg;
• swelling occurs;
• deformation of the damaged area occurs;
• the temperature rises;
• there is a feeling of numbness;
• a hematoma appears.

Recovery after an ankle sprain is to eliminate the symptoms of the disease. May be complex.

Treatment with physiotherapy

The doctor prescribes physiotherapeutic procedures for 3-4 days after the onset of the injury. Treatment methods include warming the ankle to repair the ligaments. The procedures help: improve blood flow, accelerate the regeneration of soft tissues.

Restoration of ankle sprains is performed using magnetotherapy. Magnetic waves promote rapid healing, pain relief. Often, patients are prescribed electrophoresis - an effective way to treat joints. A low-impact electric current is directed through the electrodes to the source of injury, reducing inflammation and accelerating the process of restoring the physical activity of the ligaments.

Paraffin therapy promotes the expansion of blood vessels, improving blood circulation. Warming up normalizes metabolic processes, restores the elasticity of the ligaments. UHF therapy enhances the recovery processes of soft tissues, relieves swelling and pain. Iontophoresis has a positive effect on the body. The use of the physical process of migration of charged ions contributes to the removal of toxins from the body, improving metabolic processes.

Recovery with exercise therapy

The complex of procedures is aimed at restoring the motor activity of the ankle joint. Exercises exclude excessive loads on the limb, including simple movements aimed at tensing the muscles of the lower leg and foot. The doctor prescribes restorative exercises no earlier than 4-5 days after the post-traumatic period. Exercises start with a minimum load, increasing them daily. First, gymnastics is performed under the supervision of a doctor, excluding overstrain of the muscles of the joint and the appearance of pain. Then ankle sprain recovery can be done at home with simple exercises.

Easy charging of a damaged limb consists in performing simple elements:

• movements of the toes;
• circular movements of the foot;
• lifting on toes;
• rolling the ball from side to side with the foot;
• walking on the ribs of the foot;
• walking on heels.

Compression of blood vessels due to swelling leads to disruption of venous outflow, as a result, hypoxia occurs. By performing simple exercises, blood circulation improves, muscle tone increases, and oxygen supply to tissues increases. A positive effect after exercise therapy occurs 2-3 weeks after the start of classes. Musculoskeletal function is restored after 5-6 weeks.

Medical treatment

Taking medication relieves pain, swelling. A complex of medicines helps to speed up the healing process. It includes various ointments for restoring ankle ligaments after sprains. They have an anti-inflammatory effect, reduce pain. The drug is applied to the damaged area with light circular movements, then the limb is massaged for several minutes. Ointments for sprains of the ankle joint help to restore its work, provided that the muscle tissue is not damaged. If the integrity of the connective tissue of the joints is broken, then surgical intervention is indispensable.

Complex means are chosen based on the severity of the injury. The doctor prescribes ointments:

• cooling;
• decongestants;
• anti-inflammatory;
• warming up;
• homeopathic.

Drug treatment is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease and includes the use of drugs orally or intramuscularly. Pharmacological drugs are prescribed by a doctor, their main direction is the removal of pain. Nonsteroidal drugs have an anti-inflammatory effect. Depending on the severity of the disease, the patient is prescribed medication in the form of tablets or injections. They stop the inflammatory process, relieving pain. If necessary, they have an antipyretic effect.

All pharmacological preparations have contraindications, therefore, rehabilitation after ankle sprain with their long-term use is prohibited. The attending physician adjusts the duration and intensity of medication.

Rehabilitation with fixatives

During the recovery period, the patient puts on a special bandage on the injured limb. The leg must be at rest. The orthosis helps to keep the foot in the correct position, reduces the risk of re-injury to the joint. It completely repeats the movement of the limb, helps to painlessly develop the joint. The bandage retains heat, thereby having a positive effect during recovery. It is necessary to wear fixatives only if the leg is in a state of tension in an upright position.

Recovery time 

The recovery time for an injured ankle depends on several factors:

• patient's age;
• gender;
• degree of damage to the ligaments;
• the chosen method of treatment;
• the patient's health status.

The first degree of sprain means an injury without serious complications. Rehabilitation after an ankle sprain is at rest, you should refrain from physical activity for one week. During movement, the leg must be fixed with a splint. This will save the victim from re-injury to the limb. The fixative must be worn for 10 days.

The severe course of the disease can be delayed for up to 5 months. The treatment process is carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor.

What complications can occur after an injury?

Ankle injuries do not always go unnoticed, sometimes they entail unpleasant consequences. During the course of therapy, suppuration of the joint, dislocation, hemarthrosis may occur. At grade 2 or 3, there is a risk of the following types of complications:

• tendon rupture;
• nerve disorder;
• arthrosis;
• arthritis.

Treatment not started on time, inappropriate use of medications can also cause complications after ankle sprain. They manifest themselves in the form of: improper operation of the motor mechanisms of the joint, regular inflammation in the cartilage and soft tissues.

First aid for sprains

Proper and timely provision of first aid to the victim affects the outcome of treatment and the duration of rehabilitation. Immediate decision-making action to assist the patient is to organize the rest of the injured limb. The affected area is freed from additional loads: shoes and socks are removed. The load and movement of the leg is completely eliminated. A cold compress is applied to the stretching site for 10-15 minutes, repeated 4 times. The injury site is fixed with a bandage, the victim is given painkillers. The leg with the damaged area is fixed in an elevated state to reduce the risk of hematoma.

The victim is taken to the nearest medical center or an ambulance is called. After determining the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a further course of treatment.

Prohibited actions during ankle sprain

Without knowledge of first aid, some treatments can harm the health of the patient. An injured patient should refrain from taking a warm bath, baths and saunas. Drinking alcohol during joint injury will only increase swelling and reduce the likelihood of tissue healing. Massage actions after injury are prohibited, as they accelerate blood flow to the damaged area and form a hematoma.

The constant wearing of a bandage blocks the restoration of the elasticity of the ligaments. At night, the leg should be at rest, so it is left in a free position without support.

Preventive measures

Taking preventive measures will prevent the occurrence of ankle injuries. It is recommended to refrain from wearing high-heeled shoes, change uncomfortable shoes to orthopedic ones. Professional athletes are advised to take preventive measures: use protective equipment to prevent injury. Special elastic bandages will protect the ankle from sprain during a blow, jump or fall. Before training, it is necessary to perform a warm-up. Heavy physical exertion should be avoided whenever possible.

Compliance with preventive measures will help not only reduce the risk of the onset of the disease, but also strengthen the muscles.

Conclusion

In the article, we looked at the causes, symptoms, methods and timing of ankle sprain recovery. The main thing is to diagnose and start treatment of the disease in a timely manner. The period of rehabilitation after ankle sprain depends on these measures. Preventive measures must be followed to avoid injury. The above recommendations will help to correctly and effectively return mobility to the leg, and its owner - a full-fledged active life.