Lateral Ankle Sprains - Report Example

Lateral Ankle Sprains Table of Contents Introduction 3 Anatomy of the ankle 3 Types of ankle sprains 4 Symptoms and signs of anklesprains 4 Examining ankle sprain 5 Treatment mechanism 6 Prevention of ankle sprains 7 Future projections of ankle sprains 7 Conclusion 8 Introduction According to Livingstone (2005), lateral ankle sprain is a common type of injury that occurs along the muscle-skeletons reported mostly by soccer players. The above type of sprain occurs as a result of stretching of the ligament that goes beyond the ankle rotational radius. The occurrence takes place when the ankle is accidentally forced to turn in an awkward direction under the sole most especially, inwards. It is purported that over 20, 000 citizens of the United States are met by such a condition each day. As such, medical personnel would be required to assist patients associated with such a condition. The above kind of sprain is mostly common among the sporting participants especially soccer and basketball, but it can also happen in the process of any activity. Abnormal twisting of the ankle joint may occur when the foot is subjected to an awkward motion either on irregular ground or when a bizarre force is applied along the ankle joints. Even though ankle sprains are not classified as severe injuries, inadequate rehabilitation may attribute to chronic pain, inactivity or increase chances of reoccurrence. Therefore, adequate precautions must be taken to ensure that ankle ligaments are protected from sudden fracture around the foot and unprecedented clarifies (Fong et al. 2007). The study of bone anatomy has pointed out at three basic types of ligaments attached to the ankle, the Anterior Talofibular ligament (ATF), Calcaneofibular ligament (CF), and Posterior talofibular ligament (PTF). If any of the ligaments above either experiences injury then the ankle is subjected to massive sprain. Anatomy of the ankle Partial study of ankle anatomy structure shows that the joint that forms part of the ankle constitutes distal tibia, fibula and the talus. The above bones join in a position that enhances flexibility of the ankle during motion. If the ankle moves beyond its minimal stable position otherwise termed as Plantarflexion, then it increases chances of sprains. Moreover, Interior joints are also made to enhance flexibility and smaller radius of internal rotation (Clippinger, 2007)Bottom of Form . Externally, there is an articulation that allows for both forward and backward movements thus playing a critical role of absorbing excessive sprain that an ankle may face accidentally. The above ankle is also characterized by muscles that form part in ensuring safe motion of the ankle. Types of ankle sprains Webber & Porter (2010), clarify that there are three basic classes of ankle sprains, the first one being classified as Grade I. The above sprain is considered to be the first form of ankle sprain. It takes place when ligaments stretch to form minor tears causing slight swellings around the ankle, but a patient in such a state is still able to make movements with some slight pain. The Grade II type of ankle sprain is caused when ligaments suffer severe injuries. It is more intensive than the first grade, and the patient may encounter difficulties in making movements (Webber & Porter, 2010). The final grade of ankle sprain is most severe in nature, and it occurs when the ligaments are completely worn out. It destabilizes the ankle to an extent that the patient would be deterred from walking. Symptoms and signs of ankle sprains Other than the pain that is directly inflicted to the joint, ankle sprain injury is associated with inflammation around the area where an injury has occurred after, which it gives way to blood vessels that leak on tissues within that region. Excessive leakage of blood around that region in turn instigates white blood cells along the injured joints resulting into inflammation thus exerting pressure that increases and loss of blood (Monteleone, 2008). Other common symptoms of ankle sprain include the following Swelling around the injured section Most healthcare professionals have pointed out that most ankles start to swell instantly when a ligament has been torn, which may end causing bruises in some people depending on the intensity. In most cases, such swellings may intensify as a result of excessive fluids that accumulate around the tissues (Monteleone, 2008). Pain during the injury Sprains are mainly characterized by pain as from the time of injury, but the intensity may become even more severe when swelling around ligaments increases in weight subjecting a patient to a state that deters movement. Ultimately, some ankle sprains are accompanied by popping sound during the injury, and a section may turn reddish in color due to increased blood flow inhibited around that section. However, reddish pigment may not be evidenced with a reoccurrence of sprain (Monteleone, 2008). Examining ankle sprain It is recommended that only a qualified medical practitioner can be allowed to examine the extent of damage caused by a sprain. In most cases, a doctor will press around the injured section in an attempt to ascertain the intensity of damage. On serious conditions especially where the patient complains of a severe pain, and X-ray may be carried out just to be so sure if the bone has been broken or torn. Otherwise, performing an X-ray may not be necessary. Nonetheless, it is advisable to carry out an X-ray diagnosis in children just to find out if there is any damage along the growth plates that may prevent any necessary support to the ankles (Baxter, Porter & Schon, 2008). Treatment mechanism The kind of pain associated with the ankle sprain is so severe such that an immediate treatment options, therapies and alternative recovery measures must be provided to the patient to ease the state of condition. Home based self-care: Home based self-care is one of the most recommended procedures that minimize chances of acute pain while seeking faster recovery. Outstandingly, most pains are initiated by inflammation. Therefore, the main aim of home based care is to minimize chances of inflammatory escalation. Rest, ice, compensation (RICE) and elevation method of relaxation is recommended since it prevents further chances of damage to the already inflamed tissue. For patients who have Grade III ankle sprain, it is advisable to put on either a brace or splint with an aid of crutches to avoid causing further damages (Karageanes, 2005). Elevation: Some of the patients who have suffered ankle sprain condition are mostly asked by the doctor to elevate the ankle as it prevents excessive swelling. Medical practitioners clarify that elevating a sprained leg above the body for 3 to 4 hours every day would reduce chances of bruising. Besides, it keeps toes intact and straight hence less swelling will be encountered when toes are in a straight position (Karageanes, 2005). Medicines: Medicinal treatment also forms a crucial part in the restoration of sprained ankles. However, the provision of medicine varies depending on the intensity of the sprain and the level of inflammation that has been inflicted around the injured section. Most common anti-inflammatory medicines include ibuprofen and naproxen, but patients are expected to seek medical consultation first since some of the drugs above contain acid and may react negatively to those to ulcerous or allergic patients (Karageanes, 2005). Restoring functional activity: Restoration involves a gradual process in which a patient slowly resumes the ability to carry out physical activities on a pain-free basis. For instance, a patient may be engaged in partial activities such as hopping on one leg, jumping or may be running. However, before one could resume to such a functional activity, it is advisable to access the rotational radius of a pain-free ankle, its strength and recuperation. In essence, if resuming to a physical activity such as soccer would still demand putting on an ankle bandage then no one should be hesitant to put that into consideration (Mei-Dan & Carmont, 2013). Prevention of ankle sprains There are several programs that help curb the occurrence of ankle sprains in soccer. The above programs includes balancing on a single leg at affixed position while flexing hip and knees for some few seconds, then doing the same for the other leg at some interval. Players can also balance their legs in pairs while tossing the ball to each other in between. Ultimately, they may also be advised to exercise commercial balance on the board around a platform with consistent squats forward and backward while maintaining a balance (Gallucci, 2014). Future projections of ankle sprains Most scholarly articles point out that most persons who have been affected by ankle sprains can recover from such a condition even without having to seek for medication. However, patients are advised to consider immediate medical concerns to ascertain the level of damage that has been subjected to the ligaments otherwise surgery may be applied to recover broken ligaments (Karageanes, 2005). Torn ligaments may be evidenced if an area associated with a sprain does not recover in time. It is also clarified that the recovery time for ankle sprain injury varies depending on the injury and the and the level of damage in a particular area. Once a patient has started to feel better, simple exercise may be introduced to enhance faster recovery without pain. Conclusion Ankle sprain injury has been identified as a common occurrence among soccer players and other people who are actively engaged in sporting activities. However, the paper has clarified that the level of sprain may vary depending on the extent of damage caused to the ligament. From the above paper, it has been explained that ankle joint requires a specific radius to rotate either backward or forward and any movement beyond the required stretch leads to sprain. Despite that the fact that ankle sprain injury causes difficulty in movement, there are many prevention and treatment mechanisms that can be applied to restore such a condition. References:Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Baxter, D. E., Porter, D. A., & Schon, L. (2008). Baxters the foot and ankle in sport. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier. Clippinger, K. S. (2007). Dance anatomy and kinesiology. Champaign, Ill: Human Kinetics. Fong, D. T. P., Hong, Y., Chan, L. K., Yung, P. S. H., & Chan, K. M. (2007). A systematic review on ankle injury and ankle sprain in sports. Sports Medicine, 37(1), 73-94. Gallucci, J. (2014). Soccer injury prevention and treatment: A guide to optimal performance for players, parents, and coaches. Karageanes, S. J. (2005). Principles of manual sports medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Karageanes, S. J. (2005). Principles of manual sports medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Bottom of Form Livingstone, C. (2005). 1st World Congress on Sports Injury Prevention. Br J Sports Med. 27 May 2005. Mei-Dan, O., & Carmont, M. R. (2013). Adventure and extreme sports injuries: Epidemiology, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention. London: Springer. Monteleone, G. (2008). Ankle Sprains- Twist and Shout! West Virginia University School of Medicine. 26(4):6-28, 2008. Webber, S. C., & Porter, M. M. (2010). Reliability of ankle isometric, isotonic, and isokinetic strength and power testing in older women. Physical therapy, 90(8), 1165-1175. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Read More