One of the more common physical injuries that occur regularly is the ankle sprain. Being a joint between the bones tibia, fibula and the talus, the ankle is a part of your anatomy that handles much of the strain from the feet and the legs. This joint is primarily responsible for the upwards and downwards movement from our legs down to our feet. The ankle also holds responsibility for the flexibility of movement when we sidestep or commit ourselves to lateral movements. It would suffice to say that the ankle is a vital part of our overall movement.
More often than not, athletes are the ones who always experience ankle sprains. Since they often utilize their bodies and at some times prove to overtax their limits and thus result in the getting sprained foot. Continuous jumping and running takes its toll upon the ankle and the muscles within. Aside from athletes, many other people experience sprains. This may not be the result of serious physical activity or regular exercise, sprains may also occur among people who live their normal run-of-the-mill lives, where walking the dog or pushing the cart down a grocery lane are among the most strenuous forms of exercise.
Ankle Sprains And Sprained Ankles
Now sprains occur when too much pressure is applied to this area of the ankle. Regular exercise may also bring pressure that at first we may not be able to notice, but as we run or move about excessively, a buildup of stress may occur and like any other engineered foundation, the strain may prove too much and the ankle may sprain. Ankle sprains may also occur when an instantaneous force is applied to the area of the ankle at a moment of imbalance. A wrong landing from a timed jump or a sudden twist of the ankle may suddenly cause the ankle to sprain, causing pain and eventual loss of mobility.
Ankle sprains are divided into three grades according to the severity of damage. The first two grades of ankle sprains occur when the ligaments between the bones in the ankle are overstretched and stressed. In these two cases, the damage between the ligaments is minimal, and may only be microscopic. There are no actual torn ligaments and the treatment is very simple. Recovery can also be easily attained. But the third grade of ankle sprain is the one that is severe and occurs when the ligaments are actually torn and badly damaged.
