What is this?
A sprain, whether of the ankle or any other joint, represents a more or less significant stretch, which can lead to a complete tear of a ligament (structure that binds two bones together). The most common ankle sprain is that of the anterior fibulotalar ligament and is most often associated with trauma (e.g. a fall in which the ankle turns inwards).
Who could be affected?
An ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries. Involvement of the lateral collateral ligaments accounts for 85% of cases. This type of injury can happen in any sport, most notably in those involving sudden changes of direction such as basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Sprains can also occur during a fall or even in situations where the ankle is exposed to unstable surfaces that can destabilize it.
What does it look like?
In the event of an ankle sprain, your foot may show signs of swelling and change in colouration shortly after the incident. Symptoms can vary greatly depending on the severity of the injury, but may look like:
- Difficulty putting weight on the affected foot.
- Pain on palpation.
- Bruising (bruising or bleeding under the skin), edema and swelling.
- Limited range of motion.
How can physiotherapy help?
Ligaments are structures that connect two bones together and their function is to inform our body about its position in space in order to protect it. This phenomenon is known as proprioception. Thus, when we turn our ankle, there is an increase in tension to our ligaments that proceeds to relay a message to our brain. Our brain then activates the surrounding muscles to counteract a potentially harmful movement for the joint. Following a sprain, the ligaments that have been damaged have decreased proprioceptive capabilities which in turn decreases the quality and effectiveness of the information sent to the brain. This creates a form of instability and greatly increases the risk of reinjuring the ankle. It would be like trying to manoeuvre your way through a new environment while blindfolded! It is therefore imperative in physiotherapy that we strengthen the structures around the ankle as well as rehabilitate the ligaments to fulfill their proprioceptive role.
