Did you jump too hard to catch a ball, and your ankle couldn’t sustain your landing? Or maybe your foot twisted when you stepped on uneven ground? If there is too much pain around your ankle and other symptoms like swelling, redness, stiffness, and tenderness to touch, you most likely got your ankle sprained. Find out if your injury is a grade 3 ankle sprain or nothing to worry about.
While ankle sprains are among the most common type of musculoskeletal injuries, it’s essential to know how to treat them and allow time to heal so that you can go back to your day-to-day activities. This article focuses on grade 3 ankle sprains, how to treat them, and how long the recovery process will take to heal your ankle.
If you live in Warwick, NY, Milford, PA, Middletown, NY, or the surrounding area, and you have suffered an injury around your ankle, Frankel Foot & Ankle Center has the most effective solution for you.
What is a Grade 3 Ankle Sprain?
An ankle sprain happens when the ligaments protecting the ankle joint experience a tear resulting from a twisting force to the foot. Depending on how much twisting force was applied, an ankle sprain can be classified as
- Grade 1 ankle sprain (mild)
- Grade 2 ankle sprain (medium)
- Grade 3 ankle sprain (severe)
Read more on the different grades of ankle sprains and their recovery time so that you are able to use the right treatment methods for a faster recovery.
Grade 3 ankle sprain is characterized by the complete rupture of the ligament around your ankle. Clinically, the patient may present symptoms such as
- Severe pain
- Swelling and significant tenderness around the ankle
- Redness and bruising around the area
- Instability
These symptoms help the doctor to classify the ankle sprain to Grade 3, as Grade 2 and 1 present less severe symptoms.
Risk Factors of a Grade 3 Ankle Sprain
Grade 3 ankle sprains are common among basketball players and other athletes. Thanks to their sharp movements and strong foot-twisting forces as they try to catch the ball. While anyone can suffer a Grade 3 ankle sprain injury, the following risk factors can predispose you to the injury more often.
- Previous sprain incidences – if you experienced an ankle strain and probably resumed normal activities before the ligaments healed completely, you can easily get a grade 3 ankle sprain. The ligaments are yet to heal and so can tear easily.
- The intensity of activity – High activity intensity sports like athletics and basketball put more twisting force on the ligaments around the ankle, causing them to tear.
- Competition duration – The ankle ligaments can stretch and protect the ankle as it bears the weight above it. But, continuous activity over a prolonged period can cause them to wear out and tear easily.
- Lack of proper warm-up – Proper preparation before getting on any sporting activity will prepare the ligaments for easy movement all through the activity.
Other factors that may predispose you to ankle sprains are intrinsic and may not necessarily cause injury. They include gender, foot anatomy, height, weight, and postural sway. Some people are more likely to get ankle sprains (mild to severe) depending on how their body is built.
Treatment Options for a Grade 3 Ankle Sprain
Grade 1 and 2 ankle sprains are easily treatable at home through the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) technique. The doctor recommends enough rest in both cases and may immobilize the sprained ankle for a few days, especially for grade 2 injuries.
On the other hand, grade 3 injuries are more severe and will require proper attention and longer recovery time. It’s best to get treatment from a podiatrist. The treatment is implemented in three phases.
Phase 1 – Inflammatory
The goal is to improve blood circulation to the injured area while reducing pain and swelling. The RICE technique is applicable as directed by the podiatrist. Depending on the severity of the injury, the doctor may protect your foot using a short leg cast or a cast-brace for two or three weeks.
Here’s how the RICE technique works.
- Rest – Keep your foot in a rested position for the first 24 hours after the injury and protect it from any movements. If possible, use crutches when you want to move around.
- Ice – Cold application helps reduce swelling around the ankle. Apply some ice on the area for 20 minutes, three times a day.
- Compression – Applying some compression force using a bandage can help control the swelling.
- Elevate the ankle to the level of your heart for better blood circulation.
Phase 2 – Proliferative
Once the inflammation subsides, the tendons begin to form back and start healing. It’s important to continue protecting the ankle with the help of braces. Avoid major movements that can slow down the recovery process.
This phase happens between the first 4-10 days after injury. It can take longer depending on the severity of the injury and the patient’s symptoms.
Phase 3 – Recovery and Returning to Activities
This phase can take weeks and months before you can completely go back to all the activities you were used to doing before the injury. It involves introducing the activities gradually, starting with those that don’t require extreme foot movement like twisting.
The patient is expected to undergo maintenance exercises that will help to stabilize the ankle and make the ligaments stronger. Possible preventive measures like braces may be applied to protect the ankle from re-injury before recovering completely.
With time, one is able to do activities on different surfaces, including those that require intense activity. Constant practice and exercises will make the recovery process easier.
How Can The Frankel Ankle and Foot Center Help?
Mild ankle sprains are often considered harmless. However, a grade 3 ankle sprain will require attention from a podiatrist, who will examine the injury, conduct any relevant tests, and help you through the recovery journey until you are back to your normal activities.
A grade 3 ankle sprain injury doesn’t have to immobilize your life for a long time. At Frankel Ankle and Foot Center, we ensure that your ankle injury is well taken care of and your road to recovery is smooth.
