Breaking Down Ankle Sprain Grades

Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Blog Breaking Down Ankle Sprain Grades
Breaking Down Ankle Sprain Grades

You stumble or slip, and you feel yourself coming down awkwardly on your ankle. Maybe your foot turns sideways, straining the tendons and ligaments that hold your ankle joint together. You feel pain right away, and when you try to take another step, you can tell that something’s wrong. 

There’s a good chance you have a sprained ankle. But how severe is the sprain? Do you know how to tell?

Sprained ankles are common, and they’re an especially frequent problem for athletes. At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, foot & ankle and sports medicine specialist Dr. Michael Blackwell expertly treats ankle sprains. He can see you at one of his two locations in Tomball, Texas, or his additional offices in Kingwood and Conroe.

Dr. Blackwell starts by assessing the severity of your sprain. Whether you have a Grade I, Grade II, or Grade III sprain makes a difference in the type of treatment you need to re-stabilize your injured ankle. 

Take a moment as Dr. Blackwell breaks down the grades of ankle sprain and the treatment that comes with each degree of damage.

Ankle sprain grades: How severe is your injury?

You can think about the damage to a sprained ankle in terms of anatomy damage or functionality loss. Basically, Dr. Blackwell assesses which parts of your body have sustained damage, and how much, as well as how much the ankle sprain impacts your ability to get around and complete daily life tasks.

In terms of anatomy, here’s how the grades of ankle sprain break down:

You need different treatments to repair a torn ligament than you do to restore a sprained one.

You can also assess your ankle injury based on how it impacts you. In case of a Grade I ankle sprain, you’re still able to walk, and your ankle can bear your full body weight. A Grade II sprain means you can walk, but with a limp, and a Grade III injury may leave you unable to walk on your own.

The right treatment for your ankle sprain

Without the right care and treatment, an ankle sprain can leave you suffering from pain and instability for a long time. After assessing your injury, Dr. Blackwell recommends a treatment plan that takes into account the condition of your ankle and your future activity goals.

A Grade I ankle sprain may improve after only a week or two, while a full Grade III injury needs more time. It may take 6-8 weeks to fully recover from a severe ankle sprain.

Right after your injury, use first aid to minimize swelling. You can do this by icing the injured ankle for 20 minutes. A compression wrap can also help.

Your treatment plan is likely to include physical therapy exercises to gently increase your range of motion, balance, and weight-bearing. Taping, bracing, or a walking boot can all help a sprained ankle to heal correctly. Only rarely will you need surgery for a sprained ankle.

If you suffer an ankle sprain, contact Dr. Blackwell for an assessment and treatment right away. Call now, or book your appointment online.

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