Ankle Injury

An ankle injury is one of the most common types of injuries. An injury to the ankle can occur due to a wrong movement, twisting, collision, or wearing the wrong shoes. This can lead to issues with the muscles, tendons, or the ankle joint itself. Curious to know more about the causes and treatment? Feel free to read on. We’re happy to explain it to you.

How do you recognize an ankle injury?

A painful ankle can be very bothersome. We use our ankles not only during sports, but also during everyday activities. In most cases, an ankle injury involves a sprain. This can stretch the ankle ligaments. Ankle pain usually starts with discomfort that worsens with movement or weight-bearing.

The most common ankle injuries

There are several types of injuries that can occur when you’re dealing with ankle pain. Below, we explain the most common ones.

1. Ankle sprain

An ankle sprain usually occurs when the ankle rolls inward. This stretches or tears the ligaments on the outside of the joint. A sprain causes pain during movement. This type of injury can heal on its own, but it does carry a risk of ankle instability.

2. Contusion

A sprain or twist of the ankle can lead to a contusion. You may feel a sharp pain while moving or standing. The ankle may also swell.

3. Ankle fracture

A fracture can result from a hard impact, collision, or fall. In most cases, the fibula breaks, but the ankle can break in multiple places. A fracture causes immediate and intense pain, and it's nearly impossible to put weight on the ankle. Swelling and discoloration also occur.

4. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis involves wear and tear of the cartilage in the ankle. This can develop after a bone fracture, inflammation, or simply due to aging. With osteoarthritis, you may experience pain and stiffness in the ankle. This can make movement difficult.

5. Chronic instability

Chronic instability means having a persistently unstable ankle over a longer period of time. This makes it easy to sprain the ankle. Chronic instability usually results from an injury that hasn't healed properly.

Symptoms of an ankle injury

There are various complaints that you might experience if you have an ankle injury. These symptoms may include:

• Swelling/thickening
• Pain at rest
• Inability to bear weight
• Pain during weight-bearing
• Blue, purple, or red discoloration
• Temperature differences in the ankle

Treatment

If you're experiencing ankle pain, it's important to contact your general practitioner or a physical therapist. A physical therapist can determine the cause of your symptoms and identify the specific type of injury. This allows for the appropriate treatment to be provided. Treatment usually starts with sufficient rest. After that, you can gradually start moving again.

Preventing an ankle injury

Prevention is better than cure. There are a few things you can do to help prevent an ankle injury. For example, it’s important to do a proper warm-up before exercising. We also recommend paying attention to your movement and technique during sports. Wearing the right shoes is equally important. Lastly, wearing an ankle brace can help support ankle stability.