There are many foot and ankle injuries that can happen to you every day- whether it be from a twisted ankle or sprained ankle, there is always something that could go wrong. It’s important to know the difference between a twisted and sprained ankle because they require different treatments. If you think you might have either of these sprained ankles or twisted ankles, below is a quick overview.
A sprained ankle is when you roll, twist, or turn your ankles in such a way that the ligaments get overstretched. This means it’s not an actual break of any kind- just some really bad stretch marks on your leg and foot area while a twisted ankle happens when there is damage done to tendons around the front part of your lower leg where the ankle starts. It’s more serious than a sprained ankle because it can lead to something like fractured bones.
A sprained ankle is considered to be a minor injury that can happen during your daily life. It’s something you usually don’t need to think about until the next day when it starts hurting while a twisted ankle is something that needs to be taken seriously and treated right away. It’s an injury you don’t want to be dealing with for days because it can get worse if not cared for properly through the healing process.
For a sprained ankle, the treatment is you can usually wrap it up and do some exercises that help with pain management. If there’s swelling involved then stay off your feet for as long as possible and if not, try and keep doing normal activities until everything feels back to normal again. While for those who have twisted ankles, this means ice packs on the affected area so no weight goes through the injury site itself while elevating it above heart level whenever possible.
A sprained ankle is something that can be easily fixed within about a week or two of rest and healing. You might notice some bumps, bruises, swelling, redness, pain on the exterior part of your foot right after it happens while a twisted ankle needs more than just time to heal especially since you’ve got other things like fractured bones involved for them to get better which means you won’t be able to walk normally again without crutches until enough time has gone by during an injury before it gets worse over time.
A sprained ankle and a twisted ankle may sound like they’re the same thing, but there are some key differences that you should know. It can be difficult to tell whether someone has a sprain or twist just by looking at them, so it’s important to learn the difference between these two injuries. Get in touch today if you need assistance.
Injuries to the foot and ankle are among one of the most frequently occurring musculoskeletal injuries. The ankle can be injured doing fairly simple tasks such as walking on uneven surfaces, but it’s usually more severe when people play sports; sprains or fractures often result from these activities. Dr. Stephen Chen is a specialist in treating foot and ankle injuries for athletes and active adults throughout the San Francisco East Bay Area. He provided sideline coverage for NCAA Division I athletics at the University of Cincinnati and Miami University (OH). Since graduating, Dr. Chen has continued his love of sports coverage by volunteering for the San Francisco Marathon, the San Francisco Giant Race, and as the team physician for Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. Being a part of The Center for Sports Medicine allows Dr. Chen quick access to a multidisciplinary team of orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists, physiatrists, and physical therapists to return you to your highest functional level quickly and safely. Click here to contact us for your next appointment!
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stephen.chen@eastbaysportsdoc.com