Ankle Injuries

Your ankle joints are composed of the weight-bearing leg bone (the tibia), the stabilizing leg bone (the fibula) and the ankle bone (the talus). Your ankle forms the intersection of all three bones. Tendons and muscles work together to allow you to move your ankles so you can walk and

remain mobile. The ligaments hold the bones together. Fractures and ankle sprains are the most common sources of ankle pain and injury.

And while athletes, especially runners, are more prone to foot pain and ankle injuries, anyone can easily stumble and end up with an ankle injury. And when it happens, your Midtown Manhattan sports medicine doctor is ready to provide you with the best treatment for ankle injury in NYC.

Reasons to Seek Swollen Ankle Injury Treatment

A sprain occurs when you somehow damage a ligament. Swelling, difficulty walking, pain and tenderness are the most common symptoms of sprains. The second most common cause of ankle sprains and stress fractures is walking on uneven ground, causing you to turn your ankle.

Athletes are at the highest risk of getting ankle sprains and fractures, especially when participating in:

• Basketball
• Track and field
• Football
• Gymnastics
• Competitive dancing

At-Home Ankle Injury Treatment

When an ankle injury is minor and doesn’t cause much pain or stop you from being able to walk, very often it responds well to basic home first aid. This home care is appropriate only after you’ve seen your NYC doctor and been approved for at-home ankle injury treatment. The most basic homecare for swollen ankles consists of:

• Remain off your foot until the swelling subsides. And that means refraining from participating in the activity that led to the sprain in the first place.
• Cold compresses help reduce inflammation. Apply ice as soon as possible after you hurt your ankle and continue this treatment off and on, for about 20 minutes at a time, for about 48 hours.
• A snug elastic bandage also helps reduce swelling and eases the discomfort.
• Keep the swelling down by elevating the affected foot on a couple pillows. Ideally, keep your foot higher than your heart for maximum benefit.

If, after the first 48 hours of homecare, you still have swelling — and especially if you begin to see more bruising — go back to your Midtown sports medicine doctor for further testing and swollen ankle injury treatment. Your doctor relies on imaging tests like x-rays, ultrasound and MRI to evaluate the damage and develop the best treatment for ankle injury to suit your needs.