Fall sports are in full swing, and soon you may be preparing for a winter sport. Injuries unfortunately become more common with increases in activity and especially with sports like soccer and basketball with prolonged running and quick starts and stops. What injuries should you be aware of for your young athlete?
Over the next few weeks we’re going to highlight some of the most common injuries, what symptoms to be on the look out for, and what to expect during recovery. Early intervention is key when dealing with any injury, and it leads to a better recovery.
Our topic this week is ankle sprains. They are common issues in sports and even while walking or running on uneven terrain. Repeat and untreated ankle sprains can lead to chronic instability, fracture, and a greater risk for future injury.
Ankle sprains can occur when the ankle twists, rolls inward or outward, or sustains an impact that moves the ankle joint out of its normal position. The ankle may be sprained if you notice: swelling, bruising, stiffness, difficulty walking, and/or pain. These same symptoms are also common for an ankle fracture, making it all the more important to make an appointment with your foot and ankle specialist! In order to provide an accurate diagnosis, the foot and ankle specialist will take digital x-ray and may use ultrasound to evaluate the connective tissues.
That’s all good information, but what should you do for the ankle sprain until you can come in for an appointment? Well, first and foremost…Rest is key! Continued walking on the injured ankle could result in further injury. It’s hard to slow our kids down, but it is important to encourage resting the injury both before their evaluation and as long as recommended by the foot and ankle specialist. You can also encourage icing and elevating to help relieve some pain and swelling. Typical guidelines for icing are to apply ice over a thin towel to the site of the ankle injury for 20 minutes per hour.
Ankle sprains frequently respond to a conservative treatment plan, which can be developed with your foot and ankle specialist. When you call for an appointment, please let the scheduler know that the appointment is for an ankle injury, and the date the injury occurred. We want to help your family get back to full speed ahead!
Dr. Marc House is a foot and ankle surgeon at Kinetic Foot and Ankle Clinic treats pediatric and adolescent patients from all over the Denver Metro Area including Parker, Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Greenwood Village, and Stapleton. If your child is experiencing foot or ankle pain, schedule an appointment with Dr. Marc House at our centrally located office in Aurora, CO.
Author Kinetic Foot and Ankle Clinic Our office staff works with Dr. House to curate content that is relevant, helpful, and interesting to provide you with insights, updates, and facts about foot and ankle health. Dr. Marc House is a foot and ankle surgeon in Aurora, CO serving patients from all over the Denver area.