One of the most common injuries are ankle sprains, which range from 15-30% of all sports injuries. These issues can take up to 8-12 weeks to heal. More alarming is the high likelihood that this setback will reoccur again and again! Phil Wagner MD, founder of SPARTA Performance Science, shares his insight and expertise in a recent blog from Sparta Point.
Dr. Wagner offers another perspective on treating ankle sprains, “The most common prescription for an ankle sprain is RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). However, RICE could actually be prolong the healing process. The good news about ankle sprains is that this injury is preventable, very preventable.
What is a Sprain?
The word “sprain” refers to the complete or partial tearing of the ligaments in the ankle. The most immediate symptom is swelling, which is just a sign that torn blood vessels are leaking fluid. Fortunately, this process allows white blood cells into the area, causing inflammation and the start of the healing process.
The main injury mechanism is a twisting or rolling over on the ankle, usually occurring during a cutting maneuver or landing from a jump, often on top of another player. But the real cause for these injuries start well before this incident.
The primary cause for ANY injury, including ankle sprains, is a previous injury in the same area. In this case, ligaments have been previously stretched, and then the athlete is subject to stress before these structures have time to heal (i.e. shorten).
As usual, the approach to an injured ankle requires a combination of strength, skills, and regeneration!”
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