Every day thousands of people are involved in car crashes. Painful sprains are a common ankle injury in car accidents. Most patients do not think to mention their ankle pain after a car crash, concentrating only on their neck and back pains. Without knowledge of the ankle injury your doctor cannot correct the problem, and will likely lead to a life of future ankle and foot problems.
The Ankle is a Complex Joint
The ankle is a very complex joint designed to absorb massive amounts of force as you walk, run and jump. This absorption of forces helps protect knees, hips, and back. With just walking your ankles will absorb 125% of your bodyweight, while running they absorb 250%-300% of your body weight.
Car crash ankle sprain is an overstretching or tearing of one or more of the ligaments of the ankle/foot. Ligaments are very tough fibrous bands of connective tissue that help to hold bones in place, and keep them from moving to far. The most ankle sprains from a car accident, approximately 95% are inversion strains. An inversion sprain occurs when the foot rolls to outside with the toes pointing downward. This motion happens when your foot is on the brake or the floor board, while being rear-ended or hit from the side.
With an ankle injury it is very important that the ankle, as well as the other injuries, be evaluated by a car accident doctor, who specializes in the treatment of traumatically induced injuries. That's why we created this FREE Minnesota doctor referral service for local Twin Cities' residents. Without a proper diagnosis it is impossible to have proper treatment protocol by a trained professional. Not all doctors are trained to treat traumatic car crash victims. Be sure to seek the care and advice of a properly trained doctor.
3 Different Categories of Ankle Injuries Suffered in Minnesota Car Accidents
Ankle sprains are placed in 3 categories, based on the severity of the injury. There are some clues that will tell you how severe they could be, such as popping sound, rapid onset of swelling, and amount of bruising, but the severity is really only determined after an evaluation by a trained chiropractic professional.
Grade 1 Sprains are mild over stretching of one or more of the ligaments of the ankle. With these injuries you can usually still walk but are unable to run in a straight line without too much problem.
Grade 2 Sprains are moderate to severe over stretching and possible mild tearing of the ligaments of the ankle. With this injury the person usually can walk but is unable to run and lateral motions are not possible in most cases.
Grade 3 Sprains are moderate to full tearing of one or more of the ligaments in the ankle. With this injury the person generally cannot bear any weight without bracing.
Grade 1 and 2 sprains can be treated with manual manipulation of the affected joints of the ankle and a thorough rehabilitative exercise program, which both are accomplished by a properly trained Doctor of Chiropractic.
Grade 3 sprains will often time require an evaluation by a surgeon. These will often require to be casted and on occasion have a surgical procedure.
Our Minnesota Doctor Referral Service Can Put You in Touch With the Right Physician For Your Needs
Make sure to get your ankle injury evaluated by an experinced physician after the car accident and save yourself from years of future problems. For help guiding you through this difficult process, contact our free Minnesota doctor referral service by calling 763-251-PAIN or by filling out the contact form on our website.