Ankle sprains are some of the most common athletic injuries. Because most of the shoes we do activity in have raised heels, they provide the platform to roll on as it is much harder to roll and ankle barefooted. Sometimes after hurting your ankle, you are not sure if it is an ankle sprain vs fracture. It is essential you know the difference because both scenarios require different plans of action.
Knowing if You Have an Ankle Sprain vs. Fracture
The more common ankle injuries to occur are inversion sprains or inversion fractures. Inversion is when the bottom of your foot turns inward. Ankle sprains are never chronic injuries that happen over time slowly. Ankle injuries are acute problems that occur suddenly. When you have this injury, there is usually a moment you can point back to.
If you think you have a fracture or you really are not sure it is in your best interest to seek medical attention right away. When you go to a hospital, they will be able to take an x-ray and let you know for sure. The worst thing you could do in this situation is having a fracture and hoping it is just a sprain and not getting the proper medical attention.
Symptoms of Ankle Sprain
- A sudden roll of the ankle
- Pain in ankle
- Pain to move the ankle
- Swollen ankle
Symptoms of Possible Ankle Fracture
- A sudden roll of the ankle
- Potentially hear an actual pop
- Unable to walk
- Extreme pain in an ankle
- Swollen ankle
- Touching
- No stability in ankle due to potential ligament tears
Hard to Tell The Difference Between Ankle Sprain vs Fracture
The truth of the matter here is that it is tough to tell the difference between the two injuries on your own. The most significant difference is that the ankle fracture will put you in a lot more pain. If you have never had an ankle sprain though, you will have nothing to compare it with, and that will make figuring this out that much harder. Athletes tend to be overly optimistic, especially when it comes to injuries. No one wants to have a fracture so you can often try and avoid that truth by not being seen by a healthcare professional.
Dealing With a Normal Ankle Sprain
Reduce Swelling
The first thing you want to do is reduce the swelling in the ankle. There are arguments on both sides for icing and not icing so you can choose whatever methods you are comfortable without of
- Elevation
- Ice
- Compression
The reason you want to reduce the swelling is that it is the body going through a natural healing process. You are not able to start rehabbing until the swelling is down. If you need an MRI to check for ligaments tears, you will have to wait until the swelling is down as well to get an accurate picture.
See a Sports Medicine Provider For Best Ability to Tell Difference Between Ankle Sprain vs Fracture
It can’t be stated enough how important it is to take this step and see a professional. What a lot of athletes do is roll their ankle once, they don’t rehab it correctly, and as a result, they are forever susceptible to ankle injuries. If you take the time to rehab the ankle properly after every injury, you are only doing your career a favor.
You are going to want to see either a PT or a chiropractor to be brought through the real rehab but seeing a massage therapist or acupuncturists can have many benefits down the road. To find the best local options use 9INE POINT Health. 9INE POINT health allows you to search for the best providers by type of provider and skill set. If you are not sure which provider is best for you, just let 9INE POINT Health know, and the technology will help you guide you to the right person at the right time.
Ankle Rehab For Either Ankle Sprain vs. Fracture
If you are going to do your ankle rehabs on your own, you need to understand the basics of what needs to be done. The rehab will be broken into two sections, stability and strengthening. The goal of stability is to work the ankle stabilizers in as many sports specific scenarios as possible.
The objective of this is to try and tire the stabilizers out and then make them continue to do their job. The goal of strengthening is to work each muscle so that they are stronger and have more endurance to stabilize the ankle.
If the ankle is fractured. There is no rehab until the bone has healed. The ankle will need to go into a cast for 6-8 weeks for the bone to heal and for rehab to begin. Once again, if you suspect you have a fracture, you have a medical emergency on your hands.
What If You Can’t Figure Out If You Have an Ankle Sprain vs Fracture?
Sometimes you can ice all you want, but a joint is in pain because another area is not working or because it is protecting you. With the hips, for example, your back may be hurting because your psoas is doing too much work and it is also tight. The psoas may be doing too much work because your other hip flexors are not activating correctly. The chain reaction could keep going. For the ankle joint, the knee, and hip joint health play huge roles.
Sometimes you need the help of a sports medicine provider. Sports medicine providers are used to working with athletes that need to get results quickly, to get back on the field. If you are not an athlete, I am sure that you still want quick results.
There are many different options you can go with when looking for a provider. You could get a chiropractor, massage therapist, physical therapist or many other options. The key is finding someone you trust and that you are excited to work with.
How to Find The Best Healthcare Providers for Ankle Sprain vs Fracture
9INE POINT Health is the best place to find the health care providers you need for any injuries. It does not matter where you are hurting; a 9INE POINT Health provider will be able to get you healthy again. 9INE POINT allows you to find the best local providers and compare them quickly using the 9INE POINT Number.
If you have no idea what you need, but you know you need something, 9INE POINT Health is an injury guide, and you will get helped through the process. We make it easier for you to find the information and the person you are looking for.
Skills to Look for in a Healthcare Provider for an Ankle Sprain vs Fracture Rehab:
- Active Release Technique
- Graston Technique
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Fascial Stretch Therapy
- Corrective exercises
- Dry Needling
- Sports Background
- Functional Movement Screen
- And more
KHO Health was acquired by was acquire by 9INE POINT in the summer of 2019 and is now referred to as 9INE POINT Health.
