Foot Sprain - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What Is a Foot Sprain?

Damage to the ligaments in the foot is referred to as a sprain. The term ‘sprain’ describes overstretching or tearing of ligaments, which are the powerful, fibrous bands of tissue that keep the bones together within the joints. Sports or dancing injuries commonly result in foot sprains. A foot sprain can result from any running motion that includes abrupt pauses, starts, and twisting. By moving quickly or while running, getting the foot trapped can damage the ligaments and result in a sprain.

What Are the Different Levels of Foot Sprain?

Sports or activities where the torso rotates and pivots but the feet remain in place are the main cause of foot sprains. These sports include dance, skiing, and football, among others. The severity of a foot sprain might vary.

• First-Grade, Minor: The ligaments in the body have little tears.

• Grade II, Moderate: The ligaments have significant breaks in them.

• Grade III, Severe: Complete disruption or detachment of the ligaments from the bone.

What Are the Causes of Foot Sprain?

The back foot, midfoot, and forefoot are the three sections of the foot. The midfoot and the forefoot are two common sites for foot sprains.

Midfoot Sprain:

The Lisfranc ligament, a group of three ligaments situated in the middle of the foot close to the arch, is one of the most often injured ligaments in the midfoot. One of the most frequent causes of midfoot sprains is an injury to a foot that is in the stepping posture. Additional details about risks are as follows:

• Sports: When a player steps on another player's foot, this might occur in games like football or soccer.

• Dance: If someone loses their balance while pointing their toes, this can happen in ballet or other dances.

• Missing a Step and Falling: This can also occur when a person falls onto their foot.

• Automobile Collisions: Less frequently, this might occur during more severe trauma such as a collision.

Forefoot Sprain:

The ligament in the joint at the base of the big toe is frequently strained in forefoot sprains. Turf toe is another name for this kind of injury. The most typical cause of forefoot sprains is hyperextension of the big toe or bending the big toe backward more than normal. Notable risks include:

• Artificial Surfaces: This is frequently observed in activities involving running on these surfaces, including playing football on synthetic turf or performing ballet.

• Lightweight Footwear: Because they may not offer as much support or protection, lightweight footwear increases risk.

What Are the Symptoms of Foot Sprain?

Based on the accompanying symptoms, there are three levels of severity for foot sprains. Ligament straining or tiny tears characterize grade I sprains. More significant stretching or a partial ligament tear characterize grade II sprains. The ligaments are completely torn in grade III sprains.

Principal Signs:

The majority of persons who have sprained feet will feel pain while pressing on the foot as well as discomfort. Depending on the particular ligament that is ruptured, the location of the pain and sensitivity may change. The following also serves to describe the pain:

• Forefoot sprains frequently result in pain near the base of the big toe.

• Pain around the foot's arch: Midfoot sprains can result in discomfort here.

• Worse or even intolerable while bearing weight.

Additional Signs:

Foot sprains can cause some persons to experience the following:

• Foot Swelling or Bruising: Around the base of the big toe, those who sustain forefoot sprains frequently experience some degree of edema or bruising. Individuals with isolated midfoot sprains typically experience swelling in the foot's arch without any bruising, but, in cases of more serious sprains or fractures of the nearby bones, bruising may appear.

• Affected Foot’s Inability to Support Weight: A severe foot sprain may make it painful for the patient to bear weight on the injured foot, which may prevent them from doing so. This is more typical in foot sprains of Grades II and III.

How Is Foot Sprain Diagnosed?

Doctors will inspect the ankle or foot and ask about the injury's past in order to determine the severity of the injury. To determine the severity of the injury, the doctor might request additional tests. They consist of:

• Ultrasound.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

• X-rays.

Stress fractures and soft tissue injuries like sprained ankle ligaments can both be detected by MRIs. Computed tomography (CT) scans, which provide a thorough image of the bones and joints, may also be prescribed if a patient has a fractured ankle or foot.

How Is Foot Sprain Treated?

Although foot sprains are an acute condition, recovery from them may take weeks or months of care. Depending on the degree (grade) of the injury, different treatments will be needed. Rest, immobilization, painkillers, and potentially surgical intervention are all alternatives for specific treatments.

• Rest, Ice, Elevation, and Compression (RICE): Soon after the incident that resulted in the foot sprain, the doctor may suggest a number of procedures to lessen the swelling and stop future damage. For minor or moderate injuries and up to three to four months for severe injuries, the doctor may advise resting the foot. Details consist of:

  • Rest: Give the foot a break, and do not let it carry any weight.

  • Ice: Cover the wound with ice.

  • Compression: Cover the foot with a bandage and a dressing.

  • Elevation: To lessen swelling, raise the foot above the heart's level.

• Immobilization: The doctor could advise immobilizing the foot in a boot or splint after the foot sprain. By doing this, the foot is shielded from potential damage caused by movement or additional trauma from the outside. To prevent weight-bearing while the foot is immobilized, the doctor could advise using crutches.

• Medicine for Managing Pain: Many painkillers may be suggested by the doctor to assist in controlling the pain. NSAIDs, including Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and Acetaminophen, are typically effective for treating mild pain. Prescription drugs like Tramadol may be needed for more severe pain.

• Surgery: The doctor might advise having a foot and ankle surgeon examine to see whether surgery is required if they discover that there is a serious foot sprain. Surgery is often only used to treat Grade III sprains or any sprains that are linked to surrounding bone fractures. During surgery, the bones may be put back in the correct positions, broken bones may be fused together, and plates or screws may be used to hold the bones in place. One will require some time of physical therapy and rehabilitation after surgery to aid in the healing process.

Conclusion:

The common injury of a foot sprain is caused by the stretching or tearing of the foot's ligaments. It typically results from rolling or twisting the foot, which causes pain, edema (swelling), and trouble walking on the affected foot. The severity of the injury determines the course of treatment for a sprain. Although self-care techniques and over-the-counter painkillers could be sufficient, a medical examination may be required to identify how severely the foot has been sprained and to choose the best course of action.