When one engages in sports, it is possible to experience badly bruised ankle from running. This could manifest itself in sprained or swollen ankle. Knowing how to heal as well as how to treat a bruised ankle is important as it will help ensure a quick recovery.
Bruised Ankle Symptoms
There are various ways through which one can tell they are having a bruised ankle. Among the most common bruised ankle symptoms include stiffness, pain and at times stiffness in the joint. A bruised ankle’s severity is rated from mild to severe. The injury leading to the bruise is what determines this. At times the symptoms may be so severe that walking and running becomes extremely painful. Where it is severe the ankle joint may become unstable.
What to Do for a Badly Bruised Ankle from Running
The ankle is what joins the leg and the foot. It is full of ligaments, muscles, tendons and bones. The ligaments are what help keep the bones stable. The bones on the other hand are attached to the muscles through the tendons.
When any part of these parts is injured as a result of excessive strain or stretching, the result is a bruised ankle. Some of the things that could lead to this include. Just like rib and chest bruising, ankle contusions can occur as a result of a bad tackle in sports such as soccer, football etc.
- Jogging
- Jumping
- A bad fall
- Ill fitting shoes
- Twisting of the joint which could happen when running
With these possibilities, what to do for a badly injured ankle while running is a common question. In most cases, health practitioners recommend that one takes complete rest to enhance fast recovery. When the bruised ankle is relaxed, it helps to reduce the symptoms. On the other hand, further stress tends to aggravate pain as well as make the condition worse.
Within the first 24 hours of bruising, one should ice the ankle. This should be done for 15 minutes in every hour. Ice pack gels are convenient to use as they are not messy.
Where these are not available, wrap some ice in a piece of cloth and apply it on the bruise. Icing helps in easing inflammation, swelling and pain.Keeping the bruised ankle elevated could also go a long way. It helps in reducing swelling as well as preventing blood from pooling around the injured area.
A doctor could as well recommend ankle braces. These help in allowing for free movement. Massaging the area as well as physiotherapy exercises on the affected area could as well aid in fast recovery. Where the injury was serious enough to cause ligament tear, one will be required to undergo ligament tear. To cure soreness on the bruise, minimal movement is encouraged. This helps in reducing strain brought about by the body’s weight.
With proper care, a bruised ankle should take between four to six weeks to be completely healed. One ought to take good care of themselves before they can resume sporting activities. Strengthening exercise is important in helping to improve the flexibility and strength of the ankle. Ensure shoes worn are well fitting to ensure ample cushioning and avoid recurrence and avoid pressuring the bruised area.
Swollen Bruised Ankle
One having a swollen bruised ankle can be as a result of localized extremities or diseases and other conditions affecting the whole body. Localized infections or injuries lead to a swollen ankle on the specific part involved. This mostly results from strains and sprains.
In some instances though, the swollen bruise could be as a result of diseases such as liver failure, heart disease, kidney failure or edema. These may not only affect the ankles but the feet and legs as well. it is also possible for this to occur in pregnancy, when one is obese and in case on is suffering from an obstruction in the venous system. Other diseases that can affect the ankle include arthritis.
The appropriate treatment for a swollen bruise on the ankle will depend on its cause. To manage the swelling and the pain, anti-inflammatory medicine can be used. This is more so where the bruising is as a result of sprains.
Bruised Sprained Ankle
Ligaments are strong structures that are band like and are found around the joints that attach bones together. A sprain tends to be an injury to the ligaments. A bruised sprained ankle normally occurs when the ligaments get overstretched in a sudden pull. Ligaments on the ankle’s side are most vulnerable to sprains.
When there is a sprain and a bruise, the ligaments will most likely have suffered damage enough to cause swelling, inflammation and bleeding which shows up as a bruise. Moving the joint then becomes painful especially where the bruising is extensive.
There is a grading system for sprains depending on their severity, how bad the stretching of the ligaments is and whether the ankle has been destabilized. The joint becomes unstable when damage done to the ligaments renders them incapable of giving normal support. These include mild stretching, partial rupture and a complete rupture which is most severe.
How to Heal a Bruised Ankle
While dealing with how to heal a bruised ankle, the acronym PRINCE is used. This refers to protection, rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, compression as well as elevation. To start off, once the ankle attains a bruise, protect it by taking enough rest. Ensure that movement is minimal. This will ensure that it is protected from aggravation of the damage. In the first 24 hours of bruising, ice the area consistently. This should be done for 15 minutes after every hour.
To keep the swelling down, use some warm compress. A compression bandage, which looks like a sock that has a hole at the heel, could also help. Ace braces could also come in handy in preventing movement of the ankle which will help in healing the bruises. The leg should also be kept elevated to prevent blood from pooling around the bruise.
In case after one week the swelling keeps increasing and you experience severe pain after all these, it is time to see the doctor. The doctor will examine the ankle and advise on how best to treat it. Also watch out for infections and see a doctor immediately if some is noticed.
How to Treat a Bruised Ankle
When one gets a bruised ankle, there are a number of ways of treating it. Some of the ways on how to treat a bruised ankle include application of ice. This is quite beneficial as it soothes the soreness of the bruise as well reduce inflammation. One should wrap up some ice with a piece of cloth and apply it on the bruise after one hour.
Where the pain seems unbearable, consult a doctor so they can allow you take some painkillers. An ankle brace should be worn if the joint is unstable. This helps to compress the joint and make movement easier. For faster recovery, massage the area once the swelling and pain go down.
In case the cause of bruising is being overweight, the only permanent treatment is losing some. Other diseases and conditions that could be causing it ought to be treated to prevent recurrence of the bruising. Recovery time for bruises varies and could take anywhere between four to six weeks.
