18/10/2020
Ankles are an obvious weak point as almost the full weight of your entire body rests on it. A sprained ankle is one of the most common acute lower extremity injuries - if not the most common acute injury, period. Because they’re so common, far too many people don’t realise how serious these injuries can truly be, and in our experience, people tend to underestimate the damage and the long-term risks.
Because so many people underestimate the severity of an ankle sprain, it leads to insufficient treatment, returning to activity too soon and in many cases, can cause re-injury or chronic complications. For example:
• Worsening an existing sprain by further tearing the affected ligament.
• The sprain might be “covering” a more serious ankle fracture, which can become quite severe if you continue to walk on it.
• Pain could become chronic.
• The ligaments might not fully and properly heal, which not only makes re-injury more likely, but can cause the joint itself to become loose and unstable.
• Early onset, post-traumatic arthritis may develop in the ankle. This could potentially happen years after the initial injury but still many years or decades before “ordinary” osteoarthritis might be expected to emerge.
Sprained ankles aren’t something you want to take chances with. A full examination, positive diagnosis, and treatment recommendations from a foot and ankle injury professional gives you the best opportunity to rebound quickly and avoid any future complications. You can get in touch with us via WhatsApp on 066 271 2569 or email [email protected] for a consultation if you have a sprained ankle.
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