Your ankles have to be able to move in many different directions while bearing a large amount of weight. If you do any sports, that amount of weight can be greatly increased. For example, running puts as much as three times your bodyweight on your ankles and knees while you are running. This means that the ability to hurt yourself goes up exponentially, which leads to some common problems that many people face. The most common problems are ankle sprains and strains. They sometimes feel the same and sometimes get confused but the treatments are different foot and ankle services.
Sprains and Strains
A strain is any time that a ligament is stretched beyond its capacity. If it actually tears, then it’s called a “tear.” Ankle sprains often occur when a sudden stumble or change of direction causes the ankle to move too far past its comfortable motion. The symptoms of a sprain are swelling, redness, and an inability to put weight on the affected joint. If you’re feeling these symptoms, you should see a podiatrist for foot and ankle services in Kenosha, WI.
A strain is similar but it is when a muscle is stretched beyond its comfortable level. If the strained muscle tears, then it’s usually considered a tear and not a strain. This is usually what is meant when it’s said that someone “pulled” a muscle. If you have this particular type of ankle and foot injury in Kenosha, WI, you need to see a podiatrist.
Bone Problems
Sprains and strains affect muscles and ligaments in your feet. They are not the only needed foot and ankle services, though. You also might hurt your bones. Pain to your bones typically occurs because of some kind of direct impact on your bones. If you step on something or accidentally hit your foot against something, you could damage the bone.
