When we think of ankle sprains, we often think of injuries suffered by athletes. However, ankle sprains can affect any active individuals; they can even occur after a person simply steps down from a curb!
Furthermore, not all injuries causing ankle pain are created equal. These injuries come in a few different varieties, and each type requires specific treatments in order to return the patient to full health. In this article, we’ll review the issue of ankle sprains and demonstrate how chiropractic care can help with this troublesome injury.
What Are the Different Types of Ankle Sprains?
As was indicated in the introduction, ankle sprains can occur in a variety of different ways. The three major types of ankle sprains are high ankle sprains, inversion ankle sprains, and eversion ankle sprains.
High Ankle Sprains
High ankle sprains are most commonly suffered by athletes. This type of injury usually occurs when the ankle is forced to rotate outward or is forced into extreme dorsiflexion (bending upward).
Theoretically, anyone can suffer from a high ankle sprain. That being said, it is rare for patients to sustain this type of injury unless they are involved in a traumatic accident or participate in a sport. High ankle sprains often require a large amount of force to be applied to the ankle at an awkward angle.
Eversion Ankle Sprains
Injuries in which the ankle is forced outwards (with the sole of the foot pointing out to the side) are relatively rare for most individuals. This is due to the strong ligaments on the inside of the ankle and the general structure of this joint. Even though these injuries are rare, this does not mean that they never occur. By some estimates, they account for roughly 5% of all ankle sprains seen in emergency rooms.
Because this type of sprain tends to occur mainly due to sports injuries or high energy accidents, they tend to take a while to fully heal. The patient with an eversion sprain usually has a long road to recovery. However, depending on the extent of the sprain, he or she can often return to competition after completing his or her rehab.
Inversion Ankle Sprains
Inversion sprains are, by far, the most common type of ankle injury. This issue can affect anyone. Further, many people who suffer from one inversion sprain, are likely to suffer from many more throughout their lives.
These injuries occur when a person’s foot turns inward so that the sole of the foot is facing the other foot. Because of how mobile the ankle is in this direction, inversion sprains can occur at any time. They can even happen when a person is simply walking on flat ground and the ankle “gives out”.
Inversion ankle sprains, much like the other types, can vary in severity. Mild sprains may heal in a few days or a few weeks. Serious sprains can take months to fully resolve.
Chiropractic Care and Ankle Sprains
Chiropractors play a unique role in managing ankle sprains. While many clinicians will focus on the ankle joint in particular, chiropractors will work to ensure that the nervous system connections with the ankle are properly maintained.
By performing specific spinal manipulations, chiropractors can aid the healing process thereby helping the patient resolve his or her pain as quickly as possible.
If you’re suffering from ankle pain or issues related to ankle sprains, your chiropractors in Plano, TX. can help. Our staff at Keystone Chiropractic is ready to help you return to the playing field or to whatever activities you haven’t been able to participate in due to your injury. Book your appointment today.
