Injuries Brought On By Ignoring Ankle Sprains
A sprained ankle happens when the ankle joint moves unnaturally, causing traumatic stretching and tearing of the ligaments that stabilize the joint. Ankle sprains can be extremely debilitating depending on their severity. Common symptoms of ankle sprains include pain, swelling, bruising, impaired range of motion, and an inability to bear weight on the affected ankle.
Seeking care for a sprained ankle as soon as the injury occurs is crucial to optimal recovery and restoration of pre-injury function. If you do not receive proper care for a sprained ankle, you are risking further injury in the ankle and other places of the body. A few of the injuries that can be brought on by ignoring an ankle sprain include:
Chronic Ankle Instability
If you sprain your ankle and never receive care, the damaged ligaments can remain permanently loose. This causes the entire ankle joint to become unstable and prone to re-injury. If you or someone you know have ankles that frequently “roll”, then you are familiar with this condition.
Knee and Hip Injuries
When someone injures their ankle, it typically affects how they carry their weight while walking and throws off their gait. The body compensates by redistributing the weight onto different joints, doing all it can to prevent further injury to the affected ankle. The knees and hips are often put under additional stress because of the extra weight, which can lead to injuries in these joints as well.
Fall Injuries
Ankle sprains can increase a person’s fall risk due to the effects they have on gait and balance. The elderly and physically disabled are at particular risk for fall injuries since they often already have issues with balance. Possible fall injuries can include concussions, head trauma, broken bones, and more.
Regenerative Medicine for Joint Damage
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