Ankles are quite vulnerable to a number of musculoskeletal injuries, especially when you are involved in an auto accident. The most common type of ankle injury a person experiences is a sprain, where the ligament/s of the ankle is injured. Due to the particular nature of this injury, it is necessary that you consult Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville, NC after being involved in an auto accident.
It does not matter whose fault the accident is.
Understanding a Sprained Ankle
The ankle joint comprises of three bones and a set of ligaments and tendons. The tendons are responsible for ankle movement, as they connect the bones with muscles, whereas, the bones in the ankle are attached to one another with ligaments. A sprain is usually caused when an extreme stretching force acts on the ankle. Most ankle sprains occur when the ligament connecting the fibula is injured.
In many auto accidents, the foot of the person is forcefully turned inwards, or is inverted. The twisting action causes a sprain, and in severe cases, the ligaments could tear as well. You cannot ignore an ankle sprain, since there will be pain and swelling in the ankle area. Swelling occurs when the fluid in the tissues increases due to the injury.
Treating Sprained Ankles
Many times in a car crash, when you have suffered severe cuts and bruises, the physician will mainly attend to these injuries and the ankle sprain is not given much importance. However, neglecting ankle injury and not treating the symptoms immediately can lead to chronic pain and chronic ankle joint instability. Therefore, it is integral to consult with Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville NC, to find out the extent of your ankle injury so you can obtain the right treatment and get on the right path to a full recovery.
Usually, the treatment plan for most ankle sprains is RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). The injured person will also have go through physical therapy, which is mainly used for promoting movement, reducing the pain, and inducing faster healing. Apart from exercises prescribed for improving range of motion, the chiropractor will also manually adjust the ankle joint for promoting healing. If the ankle injury is serious and there are multiple tears in the ligaments, the chiropractor might also recommend surgery.
Seeking the Truth
Auto accidents are traumatic events, and you might overlook ankle injuries. Your physician will usually prescribe painkillers and analgesic medicines, which might bring the ankle pain down, but you might not know the extent of the injury, until you have it checked by Wirth Chiropractic in Greenville NC.
