One of the most common forms of an ankle injury is the ankle fracture. Most common among athletes, ankle fractures can occur in a variety of ways. No matter what your normal physical exertion is on a daily basis, a wrong turn of the ankle can damage you in more ways than you think. Men from the ages of 15 to 24 have a higher rate of ankle injury. Women over 30, however, suffer from higher rates than their male counterpart.
What is an Ankle Fracture?
The ankle fracture is identified by a breaking of one or more of the bones. These are usually much more painful than a sprain and require more critical treatment should one occur. A sprain is identified by the overstretching and damage of ligaments in your ankle beyond their normal range of motion.
An ankle fracture can occur in any number of ways from twisting or rotating your ankle to walking on an uneven surface or even tripping. When such trip ups happen, our natural reaction is to try and position our feet and ankles to keep us from injury our upper body. However, this unconscious response can put too much weight on muscles and tendons that cannot handle the sudden stress and pain, thus injuring ourselves.
If you find that you have fractured your ankle, you may want to keep an eye on any of these immediate signs and symptoms:
Swelling
Bruising
Inability to walk or put weight on ankle
Sudden and severe pain
After experiencing an ankle fracture, it is important you receive medical attention as soon as possible. While it may not be as visually evident, you will feel it. do not let the injury linger before seeking help from a proper doctor. When your ankle has been treated properly, it is important that you get plenty of rest and keep your weight off the injured ankle. When doing this, apply ice for no longer than 20 minutes to help numb and ease the pain in the affected area. Finally, use a type of compression wrap or sock that will keep your ankle supported and immobile. Be sure that the compression is not too tight or else you could possibly injure your ankle even further.
For more information on ankle fractures, contact Dr. Pedram Aslmand for a consultation today!
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