Ankle or Foot Pain
Athletes of every sport rely on stable ankles and feet for peak performance. An ankle sprain is a common injury for athletes, but other injuries such as a fracture or strain can occur during exercise or competition.
An SSM Health Orthopedics specialist can determine what is causing your ankle or foot pain.
What Causes a Sprain?
An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments around a joint. Ligaments are strong, flexible fibers that hold bones together. When a ligament is stretched too far or tears, the joint will become painful and may swell. Sprains are caused when a joint is forced to move into an unnatural position. This can happen due to joint weakness or an unnatural movement of the joint.
Symptoms of Injury
- Joint or muscle pain
- Swelling
- Joint stiffness
- Discoloration of the skin, especially bruising
What Should You Do if You Have a Sprained Ankle?
1. Apply ice immediately to help reduce swelling. Ice the injury for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off until swelling has subsided.
2. Limit movement of the injured area. To help, bandage the affected area firmly, but not too tightly. ACE bandages will work well. Use a splint if necessary. Keep the swollen joint elevated above the level of the heart, even while sleeping.
3. Rest the injured joint for several days.
Other tips
- Aspirin, ibuprofen or other pain relievers can help.
- Protect or keep pressure off the injured area until the pain subsides (usually up to seven-ten days for mild sprains and up to three-five weeks for severe sprains).
- You may require crutches when walking.
- Rehabilitation to regain the motion and strength of the joint may be necessary.
When Should You Contact a Medical Professional?
- You have swelling does not go down within two days
- You have symptoms of infection – the area becomes more red, more painful, warm to the touch, and you have a fever over 100˚ F
- If the pain does not go away after several weeks, see a foot/ankle specialist
Ankle Sprain Prevention
- Wear protective footwear for activities that place stress on your ankle and other joints.
- Make sure that shoes fit your feet properly.
- Always warm up and stretch before exercise and sports.
- Avoid sports and activities for which you are not conditioned if you have sustained an ankle sprain in the past, because your muscles will be weaker. Wearing a brace and doing strength exercises first can help when getting back into activities after an injury.
Learn more about injury prevention when playing popular sports.