A Guide to Ankle Injuries: Marathon Chiropractor Explains Ankle Fractures, Sprains, and Hidden Instability
You misstep off a curb, twist your ankle on a local trail, or take a hard hit during a weekend game. In an instant, you hear a pop, feel sharp pain, and find yourself wondering: Is it just a bad ankle sprain, or did I actually fracture a bone?
Ankle injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal complaints we treat here at our Marathon chiropractic office. However, they are also among the most frequently misunderstood. Many people treat a severe ankle injury with a little ice, a few weeks on the couch, and a "wait-and-see" attitude.
Unfortunately, failing to get a precise diagnosis early on can lead to months, or even years, of chronic ankle pain, stiffness, and permanent joint instability. Let’s break down the three most common ankle injuries, how to spot them, and why accurate evaluation from a chiropractor in Marathon, WI is the key to protecting your long-term mobility.
Ankle Sprains (Low Ankle Sprains)
When people talk about a "twisted ankle," they are usually referring to a standard lateral ankle sprain. This occurs when your foot rolls inward underneath your leg (inversion), stretching or tearing the delicate ligaments on the outside of your ankle.
The Main Culprit: The Anterior Talofibular Ligament (ATFL) is the most frequently injured ligament in the human body.
Ankle Sprain Symptoms: Swelling, bruising, and localized pain directly on the outer bump of your ankle. You can usually still bear some weight, though walking is highly uncomfortable.
Chiropractic Treatment for Ankle Sprains: Even a simple sprain alters how your foot joints move. Proper ankle rehabilitation in our clinic involves restoring normal joint mechanics, gently adjusting foot bones, and retraining your proprioception (your brain's ability to sense where your foot is in space) to prevent chronic ankle sprains.
Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankles)
An ankle fracture means you have actually broken one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint: the tibia (shin bone), the fibula (the thin bone on the outside of your lower leg), or the talus (the ankle bone your leg sits on).
One common type of injury we evaluate in patients with past trauma is a healed fractures that have pain years later, where the bone(s) break yet also have underlying soft tissue damage.
Ankle Fracture Symptoms: Severe, immediate pain, rapid balloon-like swelling, complete inability to bear weight, and sometimes a visible deformity.
How it’s Treated: Fractures are confirmed via standard X-rays. If the bone pieces are perfectly lined up (stable and non-displaced), they can often heal conservatively in a boot or cast for 4 to 8 weeks. If the bones have shifted, orthopedic surgery (ORIF) with plates and screws is required to secure them.
High Ankle Sprains (Syndesmotic Injuries)
This is the "stealth" injury that catches many sports injury patients off guard. A high ankle sprain doesn't affect the ligaments on the outside of the ankle; instead, it damages the syndesmosis, which is the tough network of ligaments that holds your tibia and fibula tightly together above the joint. This injury typically happens when the foot is planted and forced aggressively outward (external rotation).
High Ankle Sprain Symptoms: Deep pain that radiates up into the lower leg and calf when walking. Swelling is often less visible on the outside of the foot, but the deep ache is intense.
Why it's Frequently Missed: Up to 55% of Weber B ankle fractures involve a hidden syndesmotic tear. If you only receive standard, non-weight-bearing X-rays at an emergency room or local urgent care, a high ankle sprain can easily be missed. When your leg is resting, the bones look perfectly aligned. But the moment you stand up, they begin to splay apart.
Chronic Ankle Pain: The Danger of a "Hidden" Injury
What happens if a high ankle sprain or syndesmotic tear goes unnoticed? We frequently see patients in the Marathon County area who "healed" from an ankle fracture or sprain years ago but complain that their ankle still hurts under stress.
If you are years past an injury and experience these two specific warning signs, your syndesmosis may have never properly healed:
Pain with a "Hop Test": Jumping or hopping on one leg forces the ankle bone upward like a wedge, painfully splaying the tibia and fibula.
Pain with a "Squeeze Test": Compressing the calf bones mid-shin squeezes the top of the bones together, forcing the bottom of the bones apart and recreating deep ankle pain.
Even a tiny 1-millimeter widening of that joint space can decrease the surface contact area of your ankle joint by over 40%. This causes the bones to rub together abnormally, leading to chronic inflammation, a feeling that your ankle is "unreliable" or giving way, and early-onset post-traumatic ankle arthritis.
How Marathon Chiropractic Care and Advanced Diagnostics Help
If you've suffered a recent sports injury, or if you are still living with the nagging, unstable remnants of an old ankle injury from years ago, guessing is the worst thing you can do for your body.
Our chiropractic clinic focuses on the entire kinetic chain. An unstable ankle changes how you walk, which eventually alters how your knee, hip, and lower back absorb shock. We work to restore proper joint alignment, break down old scar tissue, and strengthen the stabilizing muscles around the joint.
If we suspect a hidden syndesmotic tear or long-term joint widening during your physical exam, we can co-manage your care by referring you for advanced diagnostics nearby, such as weight-bearing X-rays or an ankle MRI, to see exactly how your ligaments are performing under pressure.
Don't let an old injury dictate your future mobility. Whether you twisted your ankle yesterday or are still paying the price for an injury from three years ago, schedule a comprehensive ankle evaluation with our Marathon Spine & Wellness team today to get back on solid ground.
We proudly serve patients across Marathon, Wausau, Edgar, and the surrounding communities.
Comments