Ankle Injury or ankle is very common. Part big Ankle injuries are mild and can healed alone with at-home treatment. However, if the ankle injury is severe enough to limit daily activities, then this condition needs to be checked by a doctor.
Ankle injuries generally occur when the ankle moves into the wrong position suddenly, for example due to an accident while driving, falling or spraining while exercising, or simply treading wrongly while walking.
When an ankle injury occurs, the muscles and tendons or connective tissue in the ankle can stretch and become inflamed. This can make the ankle swollen, bruised, and painful when moved or walked.
Type-Mcam Cedera Ebang and Gspell
Ankle injuries are distinguished by the location of the injury. Here are some types of ankle injuries:
1. Tendinitis
Tendinitis is a condition when the tendons that connect muscles to bones become inflamed or irritated. Tendinitis can occur in any joint or muscle part of the body, but this condition is quite often the result of an ankle injury.
2. Sprain
Sprains or sprains occur when ligaments, which are connective tissue in joints that connect one bone to another, stretch or swell.
3. Tendons break
When the ankle tendon is broken, the leg cannot be bent or tipped over and is very painful. People who experience a ruptured tendon will also find it difficult or even unable to walk. A ruptured tendon in the ankle is a condition that requires immediate treatment.
In addition to severe injury, tendon rupture can also occur due to tendinitis that is not treated properly.
4. Broken bones and joints of the legs
Ankle or ankle fractures can range from small cracks to open fractures characterized by bone protruding through the skin.
This condition often occurs in people who have suffered traffic injuries or while exercising, as well as conditions that lack nutrients to strengthen bones, such as calcium and vitamin D.
As with a broken tendon, this type of ankle injury is also fairly severe and needs to be treated immediately.
Although different, ankle injuries cause relatively the same symptoms. The following are common symptoms when an ankle is injured:
- Movement of the ankle is limited and painful when moved.
- Bruised leg.
- Swelling.
- Pain when touched.
How to Treat Ankle Injury
Treatment for ankle injuries is not always the same, depending on the type of injury experienced and its severity. Therefore, you need to immediately see a doctor when you experience an ankle injury to determine the severity of the ankle injury that occurs.
In determining the severity of the injury, the doctor will perform a physical examination and support, such as X-rays or ultrasound of the ankle to see the condition of the muscles, bones, and veins (tendons and ligaments) in the injured ankle. When the condition is known for sure, the new doctor will determine the treatment.
Ankle injuries can be treated in several ways. To reduce pain that occurs due to injury, doctors will usually prescribe pain relievers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
In cases of severe ankle injuries, such as broken tendons or fractures, treatment may include splinting or casts, surgery, and physiotherapy.
However, if the injury is still relatively minor, the doctor may only recommend you to do treatment independently at home through the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation).
rest
Rest your foot as often as possible, even if it's just a minor injury. Try not to move much when your leg still hurts. If you keep moving your legs or doing a lot of activities, the injury will be difficult to heal or will get worse.
Ice
In addition to using medications prescribed by your doctor, you can also reduce pain and relieve swelling in your ankle with a cold compress.
The trick, wrap ice cubes with a cloth or wet a clean small towel with cold water, then stick it on the leg that hurts for 15-20 minutes. Do this every 2-3 hours.
Compression
Wrap your ankle with an elastic bandage (elastic bandage) to relieve swelling that occurs. However, you need to be careful when wrapping it. Make sure the bandage is not too tight as this can block blood flow to the leg.
If when using an elastic bandage there is numbness in the leg and a tingling sensation occurs or the leg looks blue, then immediately remove or loosen the bandage. If these symptoms do not go away after the bandage is removed or loosened, consult a doctor immediately.
Elevation
When resting on the couch or bed, position your ankles higher than your chest. You can use pillows or bolsters to support your ankles. This method is useful for reducing pain and reducing swelling.
The doctor will also explain how to practice the ankle movements that you need to do once the injury has healed. It aims to restore the strength and flexibility of the ankle tissue so that it can function properly again.
When the ankle injury has healed, try to be more careful in your activities. In addition, there are some simple steps you can take to prevent ankle injuries, including:
- Warm up before exercising.
- Use shoes that are the right size for your feet.
- Reduce usage high heels for women.
- Rest when the body feels tired.
- Do not exercise on a slippery floor surface.
If the ankle injury that occurs is still in a mild stage, then usually the above home treatments can help recovery within a few days.
However, if the symptoms do not improve or even get worse despite the above methods, as well as if the ankle injury causes severe pain, is unable to walk, or the leg cannot be moved at all, then you should immediately consult an orthopedic doctor.