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Ankle Injuries: Lateral Ligament Sprain

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Ankle Injuries
Anatomy
The ankle joint is a hinge joint formed between the tibia and fibula (bones of the lower leg) and the talus (a bone of the foot) and allows the foot to bend upwards (dorsiflexion) and downwards (plantarflexion). The joint also allows a small amount of rotation. Two bones of the foot, the talus and calcaneus (heel bone) connect to form the subtalar joint which allows the foot to rock side to side (inversion/eversion).
Injuries to the Ankle
Ligament Sprains are the most common so we will focus on them. A sprain is defined as a tearing of the ligaments that connect bone to bone and help stabilise the joint. The most common sprain is to the lateral (outside) ligaments. This occurs with the rolling in of your foot. Very common in sports with a lot of jumping involved.
Signs and symptoms
Sprains are graded on a scale of 1 to 3 (mild, moderate, and severe), depending on the degree of tearing to the ligaments. In most cases, x-rays are performed to rule out a fracture or dislocation.
Grade Description
1 (mild) 
Minor tear
Minimal pain
Little of no joint instability
Mild pain with weight bearing activities
Slight loss of balance

2 (moderate) 
Some tearing of the ligament fibres
Moderate to severe pain
Moderate instability of the joint
Swelling and stiffness
Pain with weight bearing activities
Poor balance

3 (severe) 
Complete tear of the ligament
Severe pain followed by minimal pain
Gross instability of the joint
Severe swelling
Possible pain with weight bearing
Poor balance
Next post we will discuss management of an ankle ligament sprain.


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