Twisted ankle What to do?

During sports or in everyday life, it can quickly happen that you twist your ankle. Severe swelling of the ankle and pain when moving are often the result. Sometimes, there is also a bluish discolouration of the foot. If such symptoms occur after twisting, a stretched or ruptured ligament can be the cause. We will explain the possible causes of a painful and swollen ankle and tell you what to do after twisting.

Pain and swelling after twisting

If the foot twists, there is a so-called supination trauma in most cases. This means that the foot twists over the outside of the foot. This can lead to stretching the ligaments (ligament strain) or tearing the ligaments (ligament tear). In some cases, however, twisting remains without consequence.

Symptoms such as swelling and pain typically follow if there is a ligament injury. The pain occurs primarily when moving the injured ankle. The swelling occurs because the tissue at the ankle is injured when the ankle twists. As a result, fluid flows into the tissue, and the ankle becomes thick.

 

Blue and thick ankle

Often, after twisting, the ankle becomes thick and turns blue. This is always the case when there is bleeding into the tissue. Bleeding occurs on the one hand when blood vessels in the area of ​​the ankle tear when twisting, but on the other hand, it also occurs when the ligament tears.

Bruises on the ankle usually become visible relatively quickly, as they are often directly under the skin due to the small space. Whether and how badly the ankle turns blue depends on the injury’s location and severity.

Ligament strain or ligament tear

If pain and swelling occur after twisting, the cause is usually a stretched, torn, or ruptured ligament. These injuries are often accompanied by an injury to the joint capsule ( torn capsule ). It is usually impossible for those affected to identify the type of injury. Only a medical examination can provide reliable information about the nature of the injury.

Nevertheless, some symptoms tend to point to one or the other cause: The swelling when a ligament is stretched is often less than when it is torn. A lack of bruising can also indicate a ligament strain. Severe pain in connection with a swollen ankle, on the other hand, is more likely to indicate a ruptured ligament.

 

Sprained foot: first aid tips

If you have a twisted ankle, you should always immediately apply the LUCKY rule :

• P (Pause): Rest the injured joint.
• E (Ice): Cool the injured joint with cold water or an ice pack.
• C (Compression): Apply a compression bandage (a light pressure bandage) to prevent excessive joint swelling.
• H (Elevation): Elevate the injured joint (above heart level).

Whether further treatment measures are necessary after the sprain depends on the extent of the injury; in the case of moderate swelling, hardly any pain and slight functional impairment of the ankle, the PECH rule is usually sufficient as therapy. Give the sprained foot a few days off to heal the injury.

If in doubt, seek medical help.

You should always seek medical advice if severe symptoms such as significant swelling or severe pain occur. This is also advisable if the functionality of the joint is severely restricted – for example, if you hardly put any weight on the foot and can only walk in pain. You should also seek medical help immediately if there are signs of a broken bone, such as bone grinding or deformation. With the appropriate examinations, it can be determined what exactly the injury is and whether further therapeutic measures are recommended.

In the case of severe ligament injuries, an elastic bandage or a fixed plastic splint (or thesis) is often used. This ensures that the injured ankle is kept as still as possible. In addition, ointments – for example, with heparin – can be applied, which ensures that the bruise recedes more quickly. In addition, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving tablets can also be taken.

For minor injuries, you should start mobilizing the joint again about two to three days after the sprain. By carefully moving the joint, you can prevent later complications. Let us show you some suitable physiotherapeutic exercises.

Severe ligament injuries require a more extended rest period. It is best to seek medical advice as to when mobilization makes sense.