Read more: 12 Easy, Anytime Exercises to Strengthen Your Ankle. The bruising and swelling result from the rupturing of blood vessels caused by tearing of the soft tissues. This is especially the case for people that have received several minor sprains or a single severe sprain. The ligaments in the ankle could get partially/completely torn. Know the causes, signs, symptoms, treatment, recovery period and exercises for ankle joint ligament injury. Aubrey Bailey has been writing health-related articles since 2009. Knowing how to correctly land or fall can assist in the prevention of MCL injuries. You may have to wear a cast and use crutches for 6 to 8 weeks while the ligament heals. You can start with self-care measures, especially for minor injuries that does not involve completely torn ligament. Approximately 7-10% of emergency department hospital admissions are due to ankle strains1. If the ligaments need replacing, tendons can be taken from the hamstring or a portion of the ankle and weaved into the bone surrounding the ankle, held in place with a screw or stitches. If ligaments are partially torn, the physician may simply recommend several days of rest, ice, and compression to relieve pain and swelling. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Diagnosis, Surgery, Recovery, ROTATOR CUFF TENDON INJURY, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. This type of operation is often recommended following an arthroscopic joint inspection. Grade 1 sprains involve ligament stretching without obvious tearing. In addition to maintaining healthy diet, patients recovering from lateral ankle ligament injuries may also wish to take suitable supplements. This also helps to support the removal of waste products from the injury site. In this article you will learn what the ankle ligaments are, the signs, symptoms and how to diagnose torn ankle ligaments. Consequently, the initial swelling is due to bleeding into the surrounding tissues and the build-up of fluid. Nuro and Moreira used an anchor placed in the fibula during arthroscopic lateral ligament repair to treat 31 patients6. Your feedback helps others to find the right doctor. The rehabilitation phase of treatment typically begins once you are able to bear full weight on your ankle and no longer need crutches to walk. Diagnosing torn lateral ankle ligaments is usually through physical examination and x-rays to identify any potential fractures. The aim of surgery is to tighten ligaments and ensure that they are properly attached to the bone. Li and colleagues suggest that this method can restore pre-injury functional level, although their research only assessed 62 patients. Generally, a minor strain will only stretch the ligament. Ankle ligament reconstruction surgery is used to treat lateral ankle instability and sprains. Other tissue may be stitched over the ligaments to strengthen the repair. You might receive physical therapy, including ultrasound and electrical stimulation, to help promote healing and exercises to improve your mobility. This injury affects at least one ligament that connects the fibula and tibia bones being sprained. It is a member of the group... WEBSITE BY BULLS MOUTH MEDIA LTD - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The treatments available for free can help will all types of serious injury, from torn ligaments in the ankle to fractured legs and broken backs. How to Treat Torn Ligament in Ankle. Once the cast is removed, treatment begins at the subacute phase and progresses through the rehab and functional phases. The most common ankle injuries involve lateral ligament damage and are one of the most prevalent seen by physiotherapists. A grade 2 ankle sprain describes a partial ligament tear, and grade 3 sprains involve complete tearing of one or more ankle ligaments. Research by Barker and colleagues at the Sports Science Department of the Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in Utah found that people who took antioxidant supplements had a much higher rate of recovery after ligament damage compared with the control group9. Raising the leg above the pelvis level serves to stop odema by lowering hydrostatic pressure and enhancing the venous return to the systemic circulation. Maintaining strong muscles around the ligaments and knee joint can help to reduce the strain on the MCL. Typical treatment may include immobilisation with a splint and physical therapy to strengthen and stretch the ankle. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. In these situations, your torn ankle ligaments may be reattached with screws. Immobilisation is necessary, along with physical therapy and possible surgery. But do supplements make sense? Mrs Rutli Case... Arthritis, Rheumatism, Osteoarthritis and Gout, Ankle Ligament Injury Diagnosis, Treatments, Surgery and Recovery, Consultant & Honorary Clinical Lecturer Mark Bowen Davies, Top Joint Supplements Compared-with-side-bar. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will help to increase antioxidant activity and lower inflammation. The subacute phase of healing begins around day four and continues until 2 weeks after an ankle ligament injury. Grade 1 and Grade 2 sprains should effectively heal using the RICE approach. As vitamin C is involved in collagen production it is an essential precursor for the structural base of ligaments. Six weeks after injury and beyond, treatment for ankle ligament tear treatment focuses on returning to full function. You will learn how surgery is performed and how you can both prevent and recover from an ankle ligament surgery. How Long Does it Take to Rehab From Meniscus Surgery? Rarely is surgery required. Your doctor may recommend crutches, a supportive boot, elastic bandage and/or a splint to protect your ankle from further injury. Mark Bowen Davies... Mrs Rutli Case may be contacted for examinations during regular business hours by telephone on 01934 636363. You might begin to put some weight on your foot as you walk, if approved by your doctor. And so the treatment options, you know, first step, if you have a mild ankle sprain — rest ice, elevate all those things. Moderate tenderness and swelling, possible instability, and a decrease in the range of motion. Though an ankle sprain is one of the most common sports injuries, rolling or twisting motions of the foot could even occur while walking or climbing stairs. You could be eligible to get free medical supplies, like ice packs, crutches, and bandages, for your torn ligament injury, as well as access to physiotherapy services and orthopaedic reporting. This form of anatomic repair has been shown to improve ankle stability in high-demand athletes, especially when using suture anchors5. Studies confirm that a prolonged history of instability of the lateral ankle ligaments can promote cartilage breakdown and subsequent osteoarthritis, although the severity is also influenced by ages and other risk factors8. The lateral ankle ligament is a complex of three different ligaments including the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), and the posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL). Although some complications were noted, most of these were minor and the authors reported overall success using this technique. You may have to wear a cast and use crutches for 6 to 8 weeks while the ligament heals. Your physical therapist may stretch your ankle to decrease stiffness and improve movement. The treatments available for free can help will all types of serious injury, from torn ligaments in the ankle to fractured legs and broken backs. Good nutrition can help to accelerate healing by reducing tissue inflammation and stress. You may have to wear a cast and use crutches for 6 to 8 weeks while the ligament heals. If you've ever sprained your ankle, it's likely you have experience with ligament injury 2. Injuries that fail to respond to non-surgical treatments or present persistent instability may require surgery. Balance training activities, such as standing on an uneven surface and standing only on your injured leg, are also included in treatment. Your review is of…, In the UK & Ireland alone almost 10 million people suffer from joint pain caused by osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis, Learn what the PCL ligament is, the signs, symptoms and how to diagnose a torn PCL. Treatment Options at Nilssen Orthopedic Ankle and Foot Center in Pensacola, Florida. Vitamin C has also been shown to successfully stop inflammation following surgery to repair torn ligaments10. If you are experiencing a peroneal tendinopathy, then you have constant pain and swelling in the peroneal tendons. There are two options: An incision may be made to examine the joint and determine if any part of the ligament is caught within the joint or there are any loose bone fragments. These structures hold bones together throughout your body. This should involve Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (RICE). Based on this research, Prisk and colleagues have identified a need for conducting long-term, prospective, comparative, in vivo studies to determine the appropriateness of operative treatment in comparison with- non-surgical responses. The degree of the strain will determine how weakened the ligament is. For serious injuries, you may need surgery. Ankle sprain and associated ligament tears can be difficult to prevent, especially for individuals that play a lot of sport or are obese. When that happens, a person might suffer from pain … In these situations, your torn ankle ligaments may be reattached with screws. This should involve Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (RICE).