ankle sprain from car accident in minnesotaOne day you are driving down one of our local roads such as Brooklyn Blvd., Broadway, Hennepin Avenue, Hwy 694, Noble Avenue, when all of a sudden you are violently hit by another car.  Every day thousands of people are involved in a car accident in Minnesota.  Sprained ankles are a common injury in motor vehicle accidents. Most people unfortunately do not think to mention their ankle pain after the accident, concentrating solely on their back or neck pain. Without knowledge of the ankle injury your healthcare provider cannot correct the problem, and that will likely lead to a life of future ankle and foot problems.

Understanding the Ankle and All It Does for Us

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 your knees, hips and back.  With just walking, your ankles will absorb 125% of your bodyweight, while running they absorb approximately 250%-300% of your body weight.

What is an Ankle Sprain?

An 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 too far. Most ankle sprains (approximately 95%) are inversion sprains. An inversion sprain occurs when the foot rolls to outside with the toes pointing downward. This motion happens when your foot is on the brakes or the floor board, while being hit from the side or involved in a rear-end car accident in Minnesota.

With the ankle injury it is very important that the ankle, as well as the other injuries, be evaluated by a chiropractor that is properly trained to treat and diagnose car accident injuries. Without proper diagnosis it is impossible to have a proper treatment protocol for your injury.

Grading Your Ankle Sprain Severity

An ankle sprain is placed in 3 categories based on severity of the injury. There are some clues that will tell you how severe it could be, such as a popping sound, rapid onset of swelling, and amount of bruising, but severity is really only determined after an evaluation by a trained auto injury physician.

Grade 1 sprains are mild over stretching of one or more ligaments of the ankle. With these injuries you can usually still walk and 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 by a trained chiropractor of the affected joints of the ankle and a thorough rehabilitative exercise program. These injuries usually heal quickly if treated properly.

Grade 3 sprains will often times require an evaluation by an orthopedic specialist. These will often be required to be casted and on occasion have surgical procedure. After this they too will require a proper rehabilitation program.

Need Medical Attention for Your Ankle Pain After a Car Accident in Minnesota? Our Free Doctor Referral Service is Here to Help!

In order to make sure you recover fully from your ankle pain, it's very important to get your ankle evaluated follwing a car accident in Minnesota and save yourself from years of future problems. To find the best doctor for your specific injuries, contact our team online or give us a call at 763-251-PAIN now!