The typical recovery time for a high ankle sprain that doesn't require surgery is between six and eight weeks. If the joint is stable, a high ankle sprain usually can be successfully treated with RICE and immobilization. RICE is a four-part protocol for reducing swelling and inflammation in an injured joint: Rest.
What is the best treatment for a high ankle sprain?
Sep 26, 2016 · Rehabilitation Guideline This rehabilitation program is designed to return the individual to activity as quickly and safely as possible. It is designed for rehabilitation following high ankle sprain. Modifications to this guideline may be necessary dependent on physician-specific instruction, specific tissue healing timeline, chronicity of
How long does a high ankle sprain take to recover?
Rehabilitation of Syndesmotic (High) Ankle Sprains Anatomy of the Distal Tibiofibular Syndesmosis. The distal tibiofibular syndesmosis is a complex of connective tissues... Mechanisms of Injury. Forceful external rotation of the foot and ankle is the most universally accepted mechanism of... ...
How to rehabilitate following a high ankle sprain?
Jan 21, 2021 · Although the treatment for a high ankle sprain follows the same principles as the treatment for a regular ankle sprain, the time frame may be much longer. Partial syndesmosis ruptures are treated with immobilization in a walking cast or boot for a minimum of two weeks and longer if necessary depending on the severity of the injury.
How to heal a high ankle sprain fast?
Instead of rest and ice, we strongly recommend a natural, safe and effective rehab program to heal a high ankle sprain. It is the best treatment possible to heal your lower leg fully and quickly and research backs that up! You need to strengthen …
How long does it take to rehab a high ankle sprain?
Healing from a high ankle sprain can take anywhere from six weeks to three months — sometimes even more. Healing time depends on how badly you've injured the soft tissue and if there was any bone damage.Jan 8, 2019
What is involved in rehabilitation of an ankle sprain?
Recommendations: Early functional rehabilitation of the ankle should include range-of-motion exercises and isometric and isotonic strength-training exercises. In the intermediate stage of rehabilitation, a progression of proprioception-training exercises should be incorporated.
What is the fastest way to heal a high ankle sprain?
TreatmentRest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake. ... Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. ... Elevation.Apr 27, 2021
How do you strengthen a high ankle sprain?
Place your injured ankle about one step back and your good foot forward. Keeping your back heel flat on the floor, slowly bend the knee of your good leg until you feel a moderate stretch in the calf on your injured side. Repeat this 3 times, holding for 30 seconds.
Should I go to physical therapy for a sprained ankle?
A skilled physical therapist can significantly decrease the probability of reinjury. Whether you're suffering from a sprained ankle or any other type of foot injury, a physical therapist can provide therapy techniques to help you get back to your regular activities and keep injuries at bay.Jan 22, 2020
How long should you stay off a sprained ankle?
Depending on the severity of the injury, she advises patients to avoid any impact on the injured ankle, including running and other athletic pursuits, for four-to-six weeks before gradually working up to previous levels.
Is a high ankle sprain worse than a break?
Higher grade injuries can result in chronic joint instability and pain which may require surgical repair. A fracture is an injury to a bone when the tissue of the bone is broken. Many fractures will as strong as it was originally therefore, higher grade sprains can be worse than a fracture.
What's the difference between an ankle sprain and a high ankle sprain?
A high ankle sprain is an injury that involves a different set of ligaments than in the common ankle sprain. These ligaments are located above the ankle joint and between the tibia and fibula. They form what is known as the syndesmosis (pronounced "SIN-des-MO-sis").May 30, 2019
What helps ligaments heal faster?
The high concentration of platelets helps your ligament heal faster than it normally would.
What Is A Syndesmosis Joint?
A high ankle sprain usually occurs in combination with medial ligament injuries and/or distal tibia/fibula fractures. They are significant injuries...
Signs and Symptoms of A High Ankle Sprain
The difficulty with these types of injuries is that they are often associated with severe lateral or medial ankle sprains or fibular fractures. How...
Diagnosing A High Ankle Sprain
Because syndesmotic sprains can be associated with lateral ligament injuries, medial ligament injuries, and fractures of the fibula, x-rays of the...
Who Gets A High Ankle Sprain?
The incidence of a high ankle sprains has been reported to be as much as 10% of all ankle sprains. However, many times they go undiagnosed because...
Causes of High Ankle Sprain
The more serious ankle injuries often occur when an athlete lands on the foot of another athlete when returning back to the ground from a jump. The...
How Can I Help Prevent A High Ankle Sprain?
Because a high ankle sprain is a severe ankle injury, preventing a syndesmotic injury can follow the same principles as preventing a regular ankle...
High Ankle Sprain Treatment
Although the treatment for a high ankle sprain follows the same principles as the treatment for a regular ankle sprain, the time frame may be much...
High Ankle Sprain Recovery Time and Returning to Sport
It is important to understand that because the structures involved in a syndesmotic sprain can lead to instability of the primary ankle joint, reha...
What is syndesmosis fracture?
Syndesmosis ruptures are also associated with specific types of ankle fractures. Distal fibula fractures are associated with syndesmosis ruptures 50% of the time and are usually caused by external rotation of the foot/ankle.
What is the relationship between the distal tibia and the fibula?
The distal tibia and fibula are held tightly together by the syndesmosis membrane, and the anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments. A syndesmotic sprain or high ankle sprain is an injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis with possible disruption of the distal tibiofibular ligaments and interosseous membrane.
What is the membrane that secures the tibia and fibula to the talus?
This membrane secures the two bones and helps stabilize the tibia and fibula to the talus forming the talocrural joint (primary ankle joint) also known as the ankle mortise. This joint is responsible for dorsiflexion and plantarflexion (movements up and down of the foot).
What is a high ankle sprain?
A high ankle sprain is a significant injury and can sideline an athlete much longer than a typical ankle sprain. Ankle injuries are one of the most common injuries in sports constituting approximately 10% of all acute injuries that are treated by physicians. A sprained ankle can occur on the lateral side of the ankle which is (most common), the medial side of the ankle (least common) or can occur as a syndesmotic sprain when the ligaments between the distal tibia and fibula are injured, also known as a high ankle sprain.
How long does it take to recover from a sprain ankle?
ALL ANKLE SPRAINS ARE NOT THE SAME. Recovery from a mild ankle sprain may take several days whereas recovery from a severe high ankle sprain may take several months. In contrast, recovery from a partial syndesmosis rupture may take several months whereas recovery from a full rupture may take up to six months.
What happens when you twist your ankles in a ski accident?
Syndesmotic injuries can also occur in skiing accidents when the foot is stabilized in the boot and the body rotates as during a fall when the bindings do not release. The force of the body twisting initially tears the ankle ligaments.
How to reduce the incidence of ankle injuries?
The following can be done by the athlete to try to reduce the incidence of ankle injuries: • Maintain strong ankle muscles by strengthening them regularly with ankle band exercises performing 3 sets of 10 repetitions in all four ankle directions. • Wear proper, well-fitted shoes appropriate for the sport.
Should you Ice a High Ankle Sprain?
If you are looking to treat a high ankle sprain at home, we do NOT recommend R.I.C.E. (rest, ice compression, elevation). Even though it is a very common form of treatment, recent research confirms that rest and ice prolongs the injury and does NOT help the healing process.
Rehab Works
On Wikipedia, the gold standard for objective information, you will see that H.E.M. Ankle Rehab (our at home ankle rehab program) is included as a treatment option for high ankle sprains…
What is a high ankle sprain?
A high ankle sprain is an injury to the syndesmotic ligament complex that connects and stabilizes the bones of the lower leg, the tibia (shin bone) and fibula. Syndesmotic injuries occur when the ankle is forcefully twisted outward (an external rotation injury) or when the leg twists inward while the foot is planted.
What to do if ankle sprain isn't treated?
That treatment will depend on the extent of injury: A mild injury in which the ankle joint can function normally typically can be treated with basic care, perhaps a splint, boot, or walking cast, and physical therapy.
What is the procedure for a high ankle sprain?
When a high ankle sprain is so severe the ankle is no longer stable, as in cases in which an affected ligament is completely torn, corrective surgery is usually necessary.
How to reduce swelling in lower leg after a sprain?
Compression: Wrap the lower leg with an elastic bandage to minimize swelling. The bandage should be snug but not tight enough to cut off circulation.
How to help a swollen foot?
Elevation: Sit or lie down with your foot propped up above the level of the heart to reduce swelling and pain. Keeping the joint as still as possible will facilitate healing. This can be done with a brace, splint, or cast—usually paired with crutches if moving about is unavoidable.
Is a high ankle sprain more complicated than a regular ankle sprain?
A high ankle sprain tends to be more complicated and challenging to treat than a "regular" ankle sprain. These injuries are common among athletes who engage in high-impact sports such as football, hockey, basketball, and lacrosse.
High Ankle Sprain Overview
High ankle sprains occur when the tough, fibrous connective tissue ( ligaments) just above the ankle (collectively referred to as the syndesmosis) is stretched and torn.
Diagnosis
The first step to treating your high ankle sprain is getting it properly diagnosed. Your physician or physical therapist will usually palpate (touch) the area just above the ankle to assess for tenderness and will ask you questions about how the injury occurred.
Physical Therapy
In the case of grade 1 and some grade 2 high ankle sprains, conservative treatment with physical therapy is often effective at reducing your symptoms and restoring your function. PT is commonly broken into several specific categories, each with its own unique treatments.
Surgical Considerations
In the case of grade 3 (and certain grade 2) high ankle sprains, surgery is typically needed to restore the stability of the syndesmosis and to fix any accompanying fractures that occur. In this procedure, the surgeon places a screw through the tibia and fibula bones to stabilize the high ankle area.
A Word from Verywell
A high ankle sprain can temporarily rob you of your independence and can make everyday activities like walking feel like a chore. Fortunately, in many cases, physical therapy can help reduce the symptoms associated with this injury and restore your function.
What does a broken ankle bone mean on an X-ray?
Three views of the ankle including the whole leg are needed. A fracture on the back portion of the tibia may indicate an injury to the high ankle ligaments given that this is where the PITFL attaches.
What causes a high ankle sprain?
A high ankle sprain occurs from a twisting or rotational injury. They are common in sports, especially impact sports. An external rotation mechanism most commonly causes these tears, when the foot is turned towards the outside with respect to the leg. A high ankle sprain also can occur if the ankle is broken. In some cases, the ligament on the inside of the ankle (the deltoid) will be torn. In this event, the energy of the injury (indicated on the diagram with blue arrows) passes from the deltoid, through the high ankle ligaments (syndesmosis), and up the leg through the fibula. This causes the fibula to be broken at a very high level. This type of fracture is called a Maisonneuve fracture. Patients with a high ankle sprain without fracture may be able to bear weight, but will have pain over the junction between the tibia and fibula just above the level of the ankle (green circle). This is higher than the more traditional sprains (purple circle).
What does it mean when your ankle is high?
Patients who have a high ankle ligament tear usually will have pain just above the level of the ankle, thus a "high" ankle sprain. They may also have tenderness over the deltoid ligament if they have a Maisonneuve injury, as noted above. It is important to touch the area to assess whether pain is just around the lateral ankle ligaments or higher.
Why is it important to have stability between the tibia and fibula?
It is important to have stability between the tibia and fibula at this level because walking and running place a tremendous amount of force at this junction. A high ankle sprain, also called a syndesmotic injury, occurs when there is tearing and damage to the high ankle ligaments. These injuries are much less common than a traditional ankle sprain.
Where are the high ankle ligaments located?
The high ankle ligaments (also called the syndesmosis) are located above the ankle, as opposed to the more commonly injured ligaments on the outside of the ankle. These high ankle ligaments connect the tibia to the fibula. It is important to have stability between the tibia and fibula at this level because walking and running place ...
Which ligaments allow movement of the tibia and fibula?
As noted above, the syndesmosis or high ankle ligaments connect the tibia and fibula and allow some rotation. There are three major components of this ligament complex. Ligaments connect bone to bone which prevents bones from moving away from each other and maintains normal movement between the bones, whereas tendons connect muscle to bone, allowing them to move parts of the body.
What happens if you break your ankle?
If there is not an associated ankle fracture, patients may notice increased pain with activities that cause the ankle to be flexed up placing more stretch on the injured ligaments. Activities like climbing stairs are the most common as the ankle joint is loaded and the talus bone is driven upwards placing stress on the high ankle ligaments.
How long does it take for a sprained ankle to heal?
Healing from a high ankle sprain can take anywhere from six weeks to three months — sometimes even more. Healing time depends on how badly you’ve injured the soft tissue and if there was any bone damage.
What is the most common type of ankle sprain?
Low ankle sprains are the most common type of ankle sprain. They happen when you rotate or twist your ankle toward the inside of your leg, which causes the ligaments on the outside of your ankle to tear or stretch.
What is the role of ligaments in ankle joint?
The ankle joint is composed of a complex hinge with both bone and ligamentous structures playing a role in stability. Ligaments are soft-tissue bands that connect bones to bones. The ligaments of the ankle allow a wide range of motion while providing stability throughout the range of motion.
What is a high ankle sprain?
The term “high ankle sprain” refers to an injury involving the ligaments on the inside of the ankle joint that occurs when the foot is forcibly turned outward from either a contact or non-contact injury. If the force is great enough, there is also damage to the ligaments spanning the lower leg bones – the tibia and fibula.
Why do high ankle sprains happen?
High ankle sprains have been theorized to occur, at least in part, as a result of the increased traction provided by artificial turf fields as well as the lighter, more flexible cleats that players now use.
How long does it take for an ankle sprain to heal?
For those athletes who require surgery, sports activity can usually be resumed in approximately four months. Therefore, surgery for this injury typically results in an inability to return the same season. Once an athlete sustains an ankle sprain, he or she, unfortunately, is more prone to future injuries.
How long should I ice my ankle?
Icing should not be applied for any longer than 20 minutes as this may result in an increase in the amount of ankle swelling. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are usually prescribed to aid in pain control and swelling, though there is limited scientific evidence of the effectiveness of these drugs.
Where are the medial ligaments located?
These ligaments are divided into two groups – the lateral ligaments located on the outside of the ankle, and the medial ligaments located on the inside of the ankle. The most common ankle sprain (a low ankle sprain) occurs when the foot is turned inward which stretches and tears the ligaments on the outside part of the ankle complex.
What is the purpose of x-rays?
Plain x-rays are also necessary to rule out other injuries such as fractures of the ankle and/or foot. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be used to show more subtle signs of injury as well as to rule out other damaged soft-tissue structures such as ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Therapies
- To alleviate pain and ease swelling and inflammation caused by a high ankle sprain over-the-counter pain medications should be adequate. Options include: 1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil or Motrin B (ibuprofen) 2. Tylenol (acetaminophen) 3. Aleve (naproxen) Your healthcare provider can help you decide which pain reliever is likely to work best for you based o…
Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures
- When a high ankle sprain is so severe the ankle is no longer stable, as in cases in which an affected ligament is completely torn, corrective surgery is usually necessary. The standard procedure for repairing and stabilizing a severe high ankle sprain involves placing one or two screws between the tibia and fibula to hold the two bones together, which relieves pressure on t…
A Word from Verywell
- A high ankle sprain tends to be more complicated and challenging to treat than a "regular" ankle sprain. These injuries are common among athletes who engage in high-impact sports such as football, hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. Players should be especially cautious about returning to their sport, waiting until their healthcare provider and/or physical therapist give them the green li…