The PRICE of a sprained ankle

CEBU, Philippines - One of the most common injuries known to man is ankle sprain.

This is most prevalent among women who can’t do without their three-inch heels or basketball players who just can’t stop trying to make that perfect dunk.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons claims that around 25,000 Americans would see a doctor every day for the reason that they sprained an ankle.

We can’t blame these patients for being careless because the ankle, after all, is one of the most overworked joints in our body.

Almost every minute of our waking hours, our ankle is the last to bear all of the body’s weight, and since it is connected to the rest of the body by just a bunch of ligaments, it is not a wonder why this overworked joint would complain resulting in sprains, strains, and a lot of instabilities.

When it comes to sprains, the structure affected is the ligaments. Ligaments work like a rubber band, limiting the movement of the joint and are largely responsible for its stability. Having a sprained joint would mean either stretching the ligaments unnecessarily or worse, getting it torn.

With this, sprains are graded according to the degree of injury to the ligaments, and appropriate treatment is given based on this grading.

When there is no tearing of ligaments, it is considered as Grade I sprain. Partial tearing would be classified as Grade II, and a complete tear with subsequent instability is considered as Grade III sprain.

Grade I sprains would present with pain and swelling and the patient is likely to walk without the need for crutches.

Grade II sprains present with more swelling and pain, plus some bruising. The pain would prevent the patient from walking, although a few torturous steps are possible. Treatment would entail immobilization with splints and longer physical therapy session that would include stretching, strengthening, and range-of-motion exercises.

The worst kind of sprain is Grade III sprain and treatment may include surgery, depending on the recommendation of the physician. Physical Therapy would also take longer than Grade II sprains, although the exercises are fairly the same. Grade III sprains also present with significant instability, or giving-in of the ankle while walking.

As much as we don’t want to have ankle sprains, knowing the first things to do, if ever we get one, could mean better recovery and lesser recovery times. In physical therapy, the first aid given to sprains is called PRICE, which stands for protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Protection simply means avoiding re-injuring the sprained ankle. This can be accomplished by using splints and crutches, as well as avoiding using the ankle for a day or two.

Rest is actually one way of protecting the ankle from re-injury. Adequate rest of the injured foot is needed for better healing and recovery. The best indicator that is telling if one can throw those crutches away (or at least put it away) is the absence of pain on weight bearing. 

Rest the ankle for a day or two, or use crutches when ambulating. Slowly put some weight on the ankle, just to the point when pain is bearable. If one is already able to walk without pain, then it’s time to put those crutches away.

Ice reduces swelling, plus it helps relieve pain. Ice can be applied in three ways: ice bath, ice massage, or cold compress. An ice bath is accomplished by placing the injured ankle in a bucket filled with ice water. Make sure that the temperature is tolerable, otherwise the treatment may cause more harm than good.

An ice massage is done by making an ice lollipop and then rolling it on the injured area for 20 minutes. Make sure to constantly move the ice lollipop to avoid injuries. A cold compress is the safest and easiest way of applying ice. Simply wrap a piece of ice with a towel and put it on the injured area for at most 20 minutes.

Do not apply ice to an extremity if sensation is lost.

Compression can be accomplished through bandaging. This helps lessen the swelling while helping immobilize the injured ankle. Bandaging is accomplished by wrapping the ankle in a figure of eight pattern. One can ask a health practitioner on the proper way of bandaging. An important thing to consider, though, is to make sure that the bandage is not too tight otherwise it might compromise blood circulation. Bandaging is too tight if the foot would fall asleep or when it starts to turn blue. Usually, bandaging is applied for a day or two.

Elevation is simply keeping the foot above the level of the heart. What this does is that it minimizes the swelling of the extremity. Simply sit comfortably on a chair and elevate the injured foot for two to three hours. You can also do this while lying down by propping your ankle up using pillows or books.

For the most part, PRICE can be very effective in treating an ankle sprain, or any kind of sprain for that matter, however, for more severe ankle sprains, it would be wise to consult a doctor. Several tests, including x-rays, may be needed to properly assess and address the injury.

For the meantime, tread carefully to avoid the price of getting an ankle sprain.

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