Irbid- The ankle is one of the most important parts of the body that we rely on, and we depend on it to perform our physical activities such as walking, exercising and jogging. Therefore, it is one of the parts of the body most susceptible to injuries, and the high load on it may increase the chances of falling or spraining. This falls under the name of ankle injuries. How do they occur? What is the treatment? And how is prevention?
An ankle injury limits the ability to stand and perform daily activities, in addition to suffering from pain and fatigue as a result of making the slightest possible effort.
Doctors and specialists warn against not receiving appropriate treatment for an ankle injury, as the injured person may be exposed to complications later if treatment is neglected.
What are ankle injuries?
According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Musaeda, a specialist in orthopedic surgery and joint diseases, in these injuries the ankle is exposed to a twist or fracture as a result of a sudden movement, and the injuries vary in severity.
Symptoms of ankle injuries include:
- Swelling occurs.
- pain.
- Mild heat and redness.
- Loss of movement and strength around the ankle and foot.
- Difficulty walking or going up or down stairs.
- Tingling or numbness in the ankle area.
Al-Musada stressed, in statements to Al Jazeera, the need to take precautions to prevent ankle injuries, especially for the most vulnerable groups, which are:
- People who suffer from weak ligaments and muscles, which may be more common in women due to their physical nature, while some men may suffer from weak ligaments and muscles that may cause them to suffer from ankle injuries as a result of exposure to the simplest cases of sprain.
- Diabetics, because the disease in its advanced stages affects vision, and may limit the patient’s ability to see obstacles in front of him, which increases the chances of him being exposed to a sprain in the ankle area.
- Patients with neurological problems, as patients with peripheral neuropathy and neurological imbalance suffer from difficulty in exercising their movements properly, which may increase their chances of being exposed to injuries in the ankle area, especially ankle sprains.
- Those who are overweight, as obesity causes an increase in the amount of pressure on the ankle, making it more likely to be injured.
Ankle injury treatment
Treatment usually depends on the size of the injury. When the ankle is injured, the doctor resorts to diagnosing the patient’s condition through clinical examination and the use of magnetic resonance imaging.
The treatment is according to the injury, as confirmed by Dr. Al-Musada, as follows:
1- Ankle fractures
In the event of an ankle fracture, about 80% of cases require surgical intervention, in which the injured part is fixed using plates or external rods, depending on the nature of the injury and the diagnosis of the extent of the damage. The remaining part of the injury is treated using a splint.
2- Ankle sprain
In an ankle sprain, the ligaments are torn or partially torn, requiring the use of a splint for 3 to 4 weeks. The use of a splint represents the medical solution for about 85% of ankle sprain injuries.
The doctor resorts to using an MRI if the pain and swelling persist after receiving treatment, in order to confirm the extent of damage to the ligaments. If a complete rupture occurs, the injured person must undergo surgical intervention in order to repair and restore the ligaments.
Sprains are more damaging to the patient than fractures that require the use of a splint without surgical intervention. This is because the ligaments take longer to heal than the bones, and therefore the treatment period is longer.
Some factors may affect the duration and results of treatment, the most prominent of which are the following conditions:
- diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- growth hormone problems
- Endocrine diseases
chronic ankle sprain
Chronic ankle sprain, or chronic ankle ligament rupture, is a condition associated with not receiving appropriate treatment or not adhering to treatment after an ankle sprain. Dr. Al-Moussada notes that cases of pain following treatment may indicate exposure to a chronic ankle sprain, which may be the result of not adhering to treatment or delaying treatment, which may limit obtaining positive results.
The reason may also be neglecting the subsequent stage of treatment, and resuming activity immediately after removing the splint.
Accordingly, the patient enters a stage that may be difficult to deal with medically, causing pain for long periods of time, with a reduced chance of complete success of the treatment.
Physiotherapy
The role of physical therapy lies in rehabilitating the ankle to help the injured person regain normal movement without complications of pain or injury.
According to physical therapy expert Khaled Hamad, the stages of physical therapy or the techniques used aim to help the injured person regain his health and avoid chronic ankle sprains.
Physical therapy is divided into two stages: the first is during the splint period, which involves following the following advice:
- Raise the foot parallel to the body, to ensure that fluid does not collect in the ankle area.
- Doing exercises that aim to strengthen the muscles of the lower limb of the affected area, so that the patient can use the foot after treatment, in order to avoid muscle atrophy.
The second stage is after local treatment with a splint, and after obtaining the permission of the specialist doctor, the range of motion of the ankle joint is examined, the presence of fluids or swelling in the ankle area is checked, and the strength of the ankle muscles is evaluated. According to the examinations, the specialist resorts to developing a treatment plan that may use ice packs, electrical therapy, ultrasound, and an exercise schedule determined for the injured person.
Khaled Hamad warned of the necessity for the injured person to adhere to the advice he receives from the doctor and the physical therapy specialist to avoid being injured again.
Protection from ankle injuries
Hamad offered tips to reduce the risk of ankle injuries, including:
- Practice balance exercises.
- Use comfortable medical shoes.
- Avoid high jumps for unathletic individuals.