From walking on an uneven surface to landing hard while playing sports, there are numerous ways that an ankle sprain may happen. As one of the most common injuries in the United States, ankle sprains occur when one or more of the ligaments in the joint stretch beyond their limitations. An ankle sprain can be classified into three grades:

• Grade 1: least severe sprain, when ligaments have been overextended without tearing
• Grade 2: when there is partial tearing of one or more of the lateral ligaments
• Grade 3: most severe sprain, when all of the ligaments are completely ruptured

You may experience swelling, bruising, pain, and inability to bear weight on the affected leg if you have sprained your ankle. It is important to seek medical attention at Comprehensive Medical Care if encountering these symptoms because, if left untreated, you are at higher risk to re-sprain your ankle or develop chronic pain. Fortunately, a majority of ankle sprains can be treated with nonsurgical treatment.

A foot and ankle fracture can occur to any of the 26 bones in the region and may range from a minor hairline fracture to a complete bone break. Fractures typically happen due to a sudden twisting motion of the lower leg or a significant blow to the region. You can usually distinguish a fracture from an ankle sprain through the presence of a deformity to the bone in the foot or ankle. To confirm the presence of a fracture, make an appointment with Comprehensive Medical Care so that our orthopedic specialists can perform imaging tests like an X-ray or an MRI for an accurate diagnosis.