Spring is sports season for many amateur athletes and weekend warriors. It's also ankle sprain season for area podiatrists.
Dr. Rajvee Sehgal, podiatrist with McLaren Oakland, says ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries he treats this time of year.
"As people emerge from their winter hibernation and start to get active again, they can injure their ankles playing sports such as basketball, baseball, tennis and soccer," says Dr. Sehgal.
Anyone who injures an ankle requires prompt medical treatment, whether it's their first sprain or their fifth. Rest, ice, compression and elevation (R.I.C.E.) can reduce swelling and pain until the ankle can be evaluated and treated by a podiatrist. A sprain may not always be a sprain; the ankle could be fractured.
Dr. Sehgal notes that many athletes develop chronic ankle instability from repeated ankle sprains, causing their ankle to frequently "give way." In some cases these players may require surgery. Proper rehabilitation of an ankle sprain reduces the likelihood of developing chronic ankle instability.
Here are three spring ankle sprain prevention tips:
- Perform warm-up stretches and exercises before playing sports.
- Wear the right shoes for the sport. For example, don't wear running shoes for sports that involve a lot of side-to-side movement, such as tennis and basketball.
- Wear an ankle brace if you're recovering from an injury or have repeatedly sprained your ankle.
Get a spring physical
Make an appointment with a McLaren primary care physician for a spring physical.
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