Ankle Sprains
- Lower Leg/Foot
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Shin Splints
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Ankle
- Ankle Sprains
- Osteochondral Injuries
Sprains are the most common type of ankle injuries. These injuries occur when the ankle is forced into an abnormal position causing stretching and tearing of the ligaments surrounding the joint. Sports activities make athletes more susceptible to ankle sprains.
The degree of the sprain is determined by the amount of damage to the ligaments and can be classified as grade I (partial tear or stretching of the ligaments), grade II (partial tear of the ligaments with moderate functional impairment) or grade III (complete tear and loss of the integrity of the ligaments).
Types of ankle sprains
The mechanism of the injury determines what type of ankle sprain has occurred and which ligaments are affected.
Inversion (lateral) ankle sprains occur when the ankle rolls inward and downward simultaneously injuring the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. This is the most common type of ankle sprain.
Eversion (medial) ankle sprains are caused by the ankle being forced outward and upward which affects the ligaments on the inside of the ankle. This type of sprain is not very common as the bony structures (medial malleolus and talus) on the medial side of the ankle provide excellent support to the joint. Often an outside force adds to this type of injury.
High ankle (syndesmosis) sprains have a similar mechanism to the eversion sprain, but the key is the addition of a medial force to the lower leg. This type of injury affects the joint between the two lower leg bones, as well as, the ankle joint. High ankle sprains are often very difficult to diagnose and tend to have a longer recovery time.
Athletes with an ankle sprain may experience:
- A “popping” sound when the injury happens
- Pain or tenderness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Inability to bear weight
- Stiffness
These signs and symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the ankle sprain.
Don’t let an injury keep you on the bench. Schedule your Geisinger Sports Medicine appointment today.
Proud to be the official sports medicine providers for the following schools:
- Benton Area High School - Berwick Area High School - Bloomsburg Area High School - Bucknell University Athletics - Central Columbia High School - Columbia Montour Vo-Tech - Coughlin High School - Dallas Area High School - Danville Area High School - G.A.R. High School - Hazleton School District - Hanover Area High School - Lake Lehman High School - Lewisburg Area High School - Luzerne County Community College - Meyers High School - Midd-West Area High School - Millville High School - Milton Area High School - Misericordia University - Nanticoke Area High School - Northwest Area High School - Shikellamy Area High School - Susquehanna University - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers - Wilkes University - Wyoming Valley West High School - Good luck to all of the teams we support!
