Symptoms

Pain
Pain in the affected area
Swelling
Swollen ankles
Limited ability to move the affected joint.
Bruising

What To Expect

A sprain is usually very painful. The patient will usually notice a sprain immediately during or after the injury. Sometimes the affected joint can no longer be moved properly and it swells up considerably after a short time. If blood vessels are torn, an additional bruise (haematoma) develops at the injured site. If a distortion is not treated adequately, it may heal poorly and the joint may become less stable in the future. With an unstable ankle joint, for example, you bend over more often and are much less stable when walking. If the ligaments are repeatedly overstretched, they will gradually become completely worn out. This results in a so-called "ball and chain joint", which has little or no stability of its own. The danger of twisting again increases considerably. Since the range of movement of the joint is no longer limited by the stabilizing ligaments and the joint capsule, it can become malpositioned under stress, which over time leads to premature joint wear (arthrosis).

Made Worse By

Sprains are typical and frequent sports injuries. They occur mainly in athletes who practice sports with emphasis on physical contact, such as soccer, handball, basketball, ice hockey or rugby. So-called "stop-and-go" sports such as tennis or squash are also among the risk sports for a sprain. Alpine skiers very often sprain the knee joint. Normally, ligaments are relatively firm, so that they can only be pulled by strong forces. However, ligaments are sometimes pre-damaged, for example by previous injuries or metabolic disorders. In these cases, even normal strain in the case of a sprain can cause the ligaments to tear. A long-term lack of vitamin D can also reduce the strength of ligaments. It is important to strengthen the bones with the appropriate vitamins and to perform light joint exercises every day.

How Common

The sprain (distortion) is a typical sports injury. It is one of the most common injuries.

Diagnosed By

In the case of a sprain or suspected other joint injuries, an orthopedic surgeon or trauma surgeon is the right contact person. In case of doubt, you can also consult your family doctor. In the case of a slight distortion, he can splint the joint and give you tips on what to do in the near future. In the case of a severe sprain, he will refer you to a specialist. The description of your current complaints and any previous illnesses will provide the doctor with important information. In this medical history interview you should report as precisely as possible how the accident or injury occurred. After the anamnesis a physical examination will take place. The doctor will first carefully palpate the affected joint. If a pressure pain occurs, this is a first sign of a distortion. The pressure pain manifests itself at the site of injury and in the immediate vicinity.