Avoiding Ankle Sprains

As the weather continues to get warmer, more and more people will find themselves moving around and being active outside. However, if you’re not careful, increased activity can leave you more susceptible to injuries. One of the most common ones that happen this time of year is ankle sprains. At Great Neck Family Foot Care, our podiatrist, Dr. Hochstein, wants to keep you healthy and pain-free. For information on how to avoid this type of injury, continue reading.

What Is A Sprained Ankle? 

Before learning how to avoid them, it’s important to understand how this injury occurs. Your ankle joint is held together by multiple ligaments that help to stabilize and prevent excessive movements. When a large enough force is placed on the joint, it causes these ligaments to stretch outside of their normal range of motion, causing the sprain. The symptoms experienced when this takes place include:

• Swelling and bruising around the joint.
• Pain.
• Inability to bear weight on the affected ankle. 
• Limited range of motion.
• Instability.
• A popping sound or sensation at the time of injury.

Warm-Up Before Exercising: One of the easiest ways to sustain an injury is to perform physical activity when your body is still stiff. By taking the time to stretch and warm-up, you’ll help to loosen up the ligaments in your ankle. Doing so helps to mitigate the chances of them being pushed to the point of sprains.

Brace Or Tape Your Ankle: Keeping the ankle joint supported will help to prevent sprains from taking place. One of the best ways to increase support is by taping your ankle or wearing a supporting brace. This type of equipment can be purchased at most athletic stores and is easy to use.

Mind Your Running: Avid runners know that being successful at this activity involves more than just simply getting up one day and deciding to run. Although it seems like a straightforward exercise, those who are not prepared for this activity face the risk of injury. To ensure you stay healthy while running, we recommend taking note of the following:

• Wear running shoes that offer proper ankle support.
• Avoid running on uneven surfaces when possible.
• Don’t push your body too hard too fast.

Contact Great Neck Family Foot Care:

When you’re concerned about ankle sprains, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Hochstein and the rest of our team here at Great Neck Family Foot Care. We’re well versed in sprains and can help with both the prevention and treatment of this type of injury.