5 Common Types of Ankle Injuries, How They Happen and How We Treat Them

Ankle injuries such as sprains, strains and fractures are very common, whether you’re a weekend warrior, a pro athlete, or just going about your daily activities. Many of these types of ankle injuries can be prevented with the right precautions or treated at home, if they’re mild. 

We’ll take a look at different types of ankle injuries and what causes them, consider ways to prevent ankle injuries and explore how to treat minor ankle injuries at home.

Our expert team at The Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic has been providing care and treatment of ankle injuries to Raleigh and Triangle area residents for decades. We invite you to contact us for an appointment today to experience personalized care tailored to your needs. 

What Are the Different Types of Ankle Injuries?

Common ankle injuries include sprains, fractures and tendon injuries, among others. Let’s take a closer look at the 5 most common types of ankle injuries:

Ankle sprains. The most prevalent type of ankle injury, an ankle sprain, occurs when there is damage to one or more ligaments that hold the ankle joint together. Types of ankle sprains include lateral ankle sprains (when the foot rolls inward), medial ankle sprains (when the ankle rolls outward), and high ankle sprains (which affect the tibia and the fibula higher up on the leg). 

Ankle fractures. A fracture is a broken bone. An ankle fracture may involve a simple break in one bone of the ankle, such as the tibia, fibula, or talus, or involve multiple bones. 

Achilles tendon injuries. Tendons connect muscles to bones. Injuries of the Achilles tendon include Achilles tendonitis (inflammation) or a more severe injury known as an Achilles tear or rupture. 

Chronic ankle instability (CAI). In this kind of ankle injury, the ankle feels unstable or wobbly, as if the ankle is giving way. CAI can happen as a result of previous sprains that did not heal properly.

Arthritis of the ankle.  Ankle arthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions your ankle joint deteriorates, causing the bones to rub together. This leads to pain, stiffness, swelling and limited motion. The main types of arthritis that affect the foot and ankle are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and posttraumatic arthritis.

What Activities Commonly Cause Ankle Injuries?

Any activity that involves twisting or rolling the ankle can cause an ankle injury. 

While the specific cause may depend on the type of injury, such as fracture, sprain or Achilles tendon injury, ankle injuries are commonly caused by:

• Sports that involve lateral movements and sudden changes in direction, such as basketball, tennis and soccer
• Contact sports like football due to direct impact and the twisting actions of the game
• Accidents and trauma, such as falling from a height
• Walking or running on uneven surfaces
• A history of previous ankle injuries
• Footwear that doesn’t fit properly 
• Poor ankle strength and flexibility 
• Overuse and repetitive motions
• Trips, missteps or falls 
• Improper technique

In the case of ankle arthritis, the cause is the degeneration of the cartilage that cushions the ankle joint. This can happen as a result of age, wear-and-tear, repetitive stress, or traumatic injuries like fractures or sprains, among other factors.

How to Prevent Ankle Injuries

There are several steps you can take to prevent ankle injuries and maintain your active lifestyle. These tips can help:

• Warm up before physical activity.
• Practice ankle-strengthening and balance exercises.
• Avoid walking, running or playing on uneven surfaces. 
• Avoid overuse by gradually increasing workout intensity. 
• Wear shoes that fit well and offer the appropriate level of support.
• Remove clutter in your home that may cause slipping and falling.
• Use braces or tape for added support when practicing sports with a high risk of ankle twists.
• If you’ve experienced an ankle injury, give yourself time to fully recover before resuming normal activities.

How to Treat Minor Ankle Injuries at Home

Minor ankle injuries can often be treated at home using the RICE method. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. 

• Rest. To allow the ankle to heal, try not to put weight on the ankle and avoid any other activities that cause pain.
• Ice. Apply an ice pack every two – three hours for 15 to 20 minutes to help reduce swelling and pain.
• Compression. Wrap the ankle with elastic bandages to help control swelling. Take care not to wrap too tightly.
• Elevation. Elevate your ankle above your heart to help reduce swelling.

Other approaches for treating minor ankle injuries at home include:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) 
• Gentle, low-impact exercises once the pain and swelling decrease, with permission from your doctor 

While at-home remedies can help with minor ankle injuries, we encourage you to reach out to us if you experience severe pain, significant swelling or bruising, or pain that doesn’t improve after a few days of self-care. 

Ankle Injury Prevention

While the ankle injury prevention tips previously mentioned can help, they may not be adequate in all circumstances. The same is true with at-home treatments.

Sometimes surgery may be required to repair damaged ligaments or treat other ankle injuries. 

We recommend you schedule an office visit with us if you experience:

• Persistent ankle pain that doesn’t get better after a few weeks 
• Swelling that doesn’t improve after applying at-home remedies for a few days

Experience Relief from Ankle Injuries with Expert Treatment at The Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic 

We understand how debilitating ankle conditions can be, interfering with daily activities and compromising your quality of life. 

At The Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, we want to help you recover and get back to the activities you enjoy. We’ve been providing expert care and treatment of ankle injuries including sprains, fractures, Achilles tendon injuries and more to Raleigh and Triangle area residents for decades.

We encourage you to contact us for an appointment to experience exceptional personalized care tailored to your needs.