Brian Kwon Acupuncture A sprain is a stretching or tearing of ligaments, which can happen on the ankle, knee, thumb or wrist. The sprains that I have seen the most is the ankle sprain. The most common ankle sprain is the lateral ligament ankle sprain.
Ankle sprain is usually classified into 3 degrees.
• 1st degree – partial rupture on the ligament that led to internal bleeding, but the ankle joint is stable
• 2nd degree – rupture on the ligament impacting the stability of the ankle joint
• 3rd degree (most severe) – rupture on the ligament that caused it to be completely torn
Several possible causes of a sprained ankle: (1) Awkward landing on your foot while playing sports (2) A fall that causes a twist on the ankle (3) Walking or exercising on an uneven surface (4) Wearing shoes that don’t fit properly (5) Weakened ankle due to previous injury
The ligament that is typically impacted the most is anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL). Calcaneofibular ligament or posterior tibiofibular ligament can be damaged in parallel.
Since X-rays do not show ligaments, orthopedic tests are used for a diagnosis. The best advice for the ankle sprain is to prevent a sprained ankle or recurring sprain by warming up before playing sports or avoiding the causes of sprained ankles such as wearing proper shoes. If you happen to have a sprained ankle, acupuncture is one of the most effective methods for recovery. Give us a call if you have any questions.
