Premier Ankle Injury Treatment in Huntington Beach, CA

Each day, over 25,000 people will sprain their ankle in the United States. It is the most common sports injury for athletes. Most ankle sprains will heal on their own with some rest. However, if you are an athlete, just the thought of having to stay out of the action can be more excruciating than the pain. Being able to avoid an ankle sprain in the first place is a much better proposition if you want to keep active.

Ankle Injury Treatment

Within the ankle joint are ligaments holding together the:

Tibia
Fibula
Talus bones

The ligaments are responsible for keeping these three bones in place to allow your ankle to move properly. When one or more of the ligaments in your ankle have been overstretched or torn from it being twisted out of proper alignment, the result is an ankle sprain – and pain.

Seeking Premier Ankle Injury Treatment in Huntington Beach, CA

Most ankle sprains will heal on their own with some rest. If you have a severe sprain, you may need medical help to ensure your ankle heals properly. This is especially likely if a ligament has suffered a complete tear. If your ankle is extremely swollen, painful or discolored, you should immediately seek ankle injury treatment from a premier sports medicine doctor. Dr. Howard Marans has treated thousands of patients during the past 20 years in the Huntington Beach, CA area for injuries, including ankle sprains.

When treating a severe ankle sprain, Dr. Marans will recommend diagnostic tests, including X-rays to rule out a fracture. If no fractures are present, a conservative approach will be recommended

The RICE protocol is typically recommended:

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

Sports Medicine will be recommended to improve the strength of your ankle and maintain or regain complete range of motion.

When a ligament has been completely torn, arthroscopic surgery is recommended to repair the tear. Arthroscopy is preferable over traditional surgery because it can be performed on an outpatient basis and allows for a faster recovery with smaller incisions and less damage to surrounding tissue.

Preventing an Ankle Sprain

It’s possible to reduce your risk for ankle sprains. Dr. Marans may recommend:

Exercises that will focus on strengthening the muscles around your ankle joint
Make your ankle more flexible by doing a stretching routine regularly will help improve your ankle’s range of motion
Improve your balance by practicing standing or hopping on one foot will help you better control your body’s proprioception and avoid awkward ankle twistingTape or brace your ankle to help keep it stable, especially if you are prone to ankle sprains.