Ankle ligament injuries, such as a torn ligament, are common among people of all ages. These injuries can significantly impact physical activity, often leading to missed opportunities for athletes to participate in tournaments. A sprained ankle occurs when you twist or roll your ankle more awkwardly than its ordinary course of motion, and the ligament that supports the ankle is stretched beyond its limits, resulting in a sprain or tear. The severity of ankle injury will depend on how many ligaments were affected and how much damage they caused.

Ankle Ligament Tear Treatment

Most sprains heal with common remedies like ice packs, elevation, medication, and light-motion exercises. It’s crucial to start these treatments as soon as possible after the injury. Depending on the severity of the pain, it might take a few hours to a few days. However, if the pain is unbearable, or you cannot put weight on your foot despite these remedies, early intervention is key. Consult a physician to evaluate the injury, which could indicate a severe ankle injury or fracture. If non-operative treatment cannot help treat the injury, a surgical procedure might be required to repair or reconstruct the injured ligaments.

If left untreated, a more severe sprain may weaken your ankle and increase its vulnerability to further harm. However, with the proper care and therapy, you can prevent more severe issues like persistent instability, arthritis, and chronic ankle discomfort and get it treated timely.

Let’s look at some methods of ankle ligament injury treatment.

Non-surgical Methods

Surgery is not always necessary to treat isolated low ankle sprains. Most common ankle sprains will heal without surgical repair if immobilised and rehabilitated appropriately.

A three-phase regimen guides all therapy for ankle sprains:

1. Phase one involves immobilisation, rest, and ice to reduce the swelling. Depending on the grade of the injury, the doctor might recommend a cast. Most of the time, discomfort and swelling disappear within two to three days. Walking could be challenging during this period, and your doctor might advise using crutches as needed.

2. Phase two includes functional rehabilitation, focusing on motion exercises, isometric strengthening, and proprioception (balance) retraining exercises. Here, phase one (immobilisation) is paused to avoid stiffness.

3. Phase three includes progressing with proprioception and strengthening exercises and gradually returning to pre-injury activities. Activities that don’t involve twisting or rotating the ankle come first, followed by sports like football, basketball, or tennis that call for quick, abrupt turns. Rest is recommended for the ankle to heal completely; however, an early return to sporting and work activities may require ankle taping or bracing.

Surgical Treatment for Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain might rarely require surgical treatment; however, it may be needed in cases of severe damage. Surgery is only recommended for injuries that do not improve with conservative measures or for those who continue to have discomfort and instability in their ankles following several months of nonoperative care and rehabilitation.

Surgery may also be necessary for some high ankle sprains accompanied by ankle syndesmosis instability.

Consulting an Orthopaedic

Consult a doctor if you have a swollen ankle, pain when walking, or difficulty putting weight on the foot. As discussed above, most injuries are treatable with self-care methods and remedies; getting your injured ankle evaluated by a professional is recommended to obtain the best treatment for an ankle injury and regain its movement.