A “strained ankle” is actually a misnomer for a sprained ankle, which occurs when a ligament is damaged or begins to tear. Pain that feels like a strained ankle could be a sprained ankle, and RICE treatment is used to address it. Wearing highly supportive footwear can help prevent sprained ankles.
The term “strained ankle” is actually a misnomer for a sprained ankle. Strains occur when muscle tissue or tendons begin to tear, causing pain in that muscle. A sprain occurs when a ligament is damaged or begins to tear, causing pain. Ligaments are tissues that connect bones in a joint, so a strained ankle is actually a sprained ankle since the damage in the ankle joint is to a ligament, not a muscle or tendon. The term “stretched ankle” is not commonly used in medical terminology.
Pain that feels like a strained ankle could be a sprained ankle. This occurs when the ligaments in the joint are stretched or twisted beyond their means, leading to tearing of the tiny fibers that make up the ligament. A sprain will result in swelling and tenderness, as well as a loss of motion, and sprained ankle sufferers are likely to be unable to put pressure on the joint for several days or weeks, depending on the severity of the injury. RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) treatment is used to address a sprained ankle. These practices aim to reduce swelling, thereby reducing pain and increasing blood flow to the injury.
Sometimes a muscle strain can be confused with a tight ankle. Muscles become tight when they are stretched or twisted beyond their means, leading to tearing of the tiny fibers that make up the muscle. These injuries can also be treated using RICE treatment and the pain can radiate to the ankle, making the sufferer believe they have suffered a strained ankle. If a muscle strains so badly that the muscle tissue tears completely from itself or from the tendons that attach it to the bone, the injury is known as a muscle tear. Breakups can be extremely painful and difficult to recover from; surgery may be needed to repair the broken muscle.
Sprained ankles often occur among athletes. A good way to combat the likelihood of a sprained ankle is to wear highly supportive footwear. Some athletes go so far as to use athletic tape to secure the ankle joint; this will limit your range of motion to a certain extent, but will offer additional support that will keep your ankle from moving in unnatural motions.
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