Ligament Injuries

“ACL or Anterior Cruciate Ligament is one of the most common ligament injuries in India with over 86% of all ligament injuries. However, there are many other types of ligaments and related injuries. They occur over a wide age group and mostly among more active people. Prompt treatment can avoid more chronic complications. Axis Clinics specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries to help you recover faster.” – National Library of Medicine

What are Ligament Injuries?

Ligament injuries are damage to soft tissues that join the muscles and joints. They result from a torn or stretched ligament. Usually, these injuries occur due to a direct blow, fall, or twist. A few of the common symptoms include swelling, pain, or maybe a cracking or snapping feeling.

Ankle ligament injuries are quite common in sports events. They especially affect those who run and play soccer or basketball. Moreover, sudden jerky movements or clumsy falls can cause strain and tightness to the ligaments. Also, one may face wrist injuries from ligament sprains that often happen from an outstretched hand. 

These cause damage to the ligaments, and you will suffer from little to severe pain as a result of the condition. Also, weightlifting’s repetitive stress weakens ligaments due to constant straining.

Proper diagnosis and treatment for these injuries will give one a successful recovery. Thus, if you sense some pain, you have to get an early diagnosis that can prevent long-term damage and allow a quicker return to your daily work.

Symptoms of Ligament Injuries

The common symptoms of ligament injuries vary based on the degree of severity but can include:

  • Pain: Stabbing pain at the site of the injury, especially when movement is done
  • Swelling: Inflammation in the surrounding injured area.
  • Discoloration: Bruises from internal bleeding.
  • Limited motion: The joint would be difficult to move due to pain or swelling.
  • Instability or weakness: The joint would feel unstable or weak.
  • Sensitivity when touched: The region reacts strongly to touch.

Ankle ligament injuries may cause soreness when walking or standing. While a wrist ligament injury may lead to pain when you are gripping something or moving your hands.

Causes and Risk Factors of Ligament Injuries

What causes ankle ligament injury? In most cases, the ligament injuries in the ankle are due to:

  • Twisting or rolling the ankle, either during physical exercise or in a sudden manner.
  • Landing awkwardly from a jump or a run.
  • Sudden change in direction especially while playing sports.
  • Walking or running on uneven surfaces.

Risk Factors Associated with Ligament Injury in the Ankle:

  • High-risk sports such as basketball, and soccer
  • A history of ankle injury
  • Weak muscle or imbalanced muscles
  • Poor footwear

What leads to ligament injuries of the wrist? Injuries to the ligaments of the wrist typically result from:

  • Falling on a stretched hand
  • Repetitive motion or overuse (sports-related or profession-related)
  • Direct trauma during a fall or accident
  • Wrist hyperextension

Risk Factors for Wrist Ligament Injuries:

  • Sports, such as basketball and tennis, or gymnastics
  • Previous injuries in the wrist
  • Weakened or imprecise muscles around the wrists
  • Degenerative factors in older people

Diagnosis of Ligament Injuries

Doctors diagnose ligament injuries in the ankle or wrist by thoroughly checking the limb. The next step is an imaging test, which shows how severe the injury is.

  •  MRI: It helps to visualize soft tissue damage and the extent of damage.
  •  X-rays: To rule out fractures, that may be secondary to a ligament injury.
  • Ultrasound: It is applied for real-time imaging to estimate the amount of damage to ligaments.

Doctors need an accurate diagnosis to prescribe the right treatment for your ligament. It helps them determine the right treatment option, and prevent complications that may arise when healing occurs. Early intervention avoids long-term problems and supports the restoration of function and mobility.

What is the best treatment for ligament damage? Ligament Injuries Treatments

Most of the ligament injuries are treated with conservative approaches. The ligament is capable of regeneration, which is why the only thing to do is restrict movement and get rid of pain and inflammation. The RICE method is one of the popular approaches for this. It includes rest and ice application for pain relief. Moreover, compression and elevation help keep the joint stable and promote healing. 

Moreover, you can also opt for physical therapy, which helps strengthen muscles, release stress from the ligament, and regain the stability of the joint. With a new ligament injury treatment called regenerative intervention, the ligament can be made to recover faster. In this treatment, the ortho biologics extracted from your own blood or bone marrow are implanted in the affected area to promote ligament regeneration. 

However, if the ligament is completely torn into pieces, the ligament replacement surgery is crucial. Consulting our experts at Axis Clinics can help you know the treatment options that work best for you.

Recovery and Rehabilitation from Ligament Injuries

The healing process after a ligament sprain in the ankle or wrist differs according to the severity of the injury. Mild sprains could take a few weeks to recover, whereas serious ligament tears might require months of rehabilitation.

Mild Ligament Injuries Recovery Time:

  • Ligament injuries of the ankle: For minor sprains, 1 to 3 weeks will be required for recovery.
  • Wrist ligament injuries: These usually heal from 2 to 4 weeks.

Recovery time for more severe injuries:

  • Ligament injury in the ankle: Ranges from mild sprains taking 4 – 6 weeks, to highly severe sprains that take as long as 16 -18 weeks or even more.
  • Ligament sprain of the wrist: More severe sprains or tears heal in weeks to months.

How do you rehab a ligament injury?

  •  Ankle ligament injuries: Treatment involves immobilization of the ankle in a brace or with an elastic wrap and exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles.
  • Wrist ligament injuries: To ambulate as pain-free as possible, stretching, strengthening exercises, and potentially a wrist orthosis would have been started to reduce further damage.

Rehabilitation, along with physiotherapy, will help recover strength and the mobility of the affected joint. Thus, one can quickly recover and prevent long-term limitations in the movement. It is important to rebuild function and healthy joint articulation.

How do you prevent ligament injuries?

While ligament injuries can be unexpected, you can take certain measures to prevent these injuries. Some prevention tips that are given for ligament injuries of the ankle and wrist include:

  • Warming up before physical activities.
  • Strength training of muscles around the joint to be injured, such as the ankle or the wrist.
  • Proper shoes for the appropriate activity.
  • Use proper technique when playing a sport or exercising.
  • Use protective gear such as ankle supports or wrist guards during risky activities.
  • Stretch frequently to enhance flexibility.
  • Avoid overexertion and take periods while performing repetitive work.

When to See a Doctor?

If you suspect a ligament injury, it’s important to see a doctor. These are some pointers that will help you to identify the right time to consult a doctor.

  • Pain persists and fails to improve with rest.
  • Severe swelling or bruising.
  • Cannot move or bear weight on the involved joint.
  • Numbness and paresthesia in the area of the injury.
  • The joint felt a “pop” when the injury occurred.

The sooner a healthcare provider can be seen, the less likely complications will arise, and accurate treatment will be administered.

Conclusion

Ankle and wrist ligament injuries recover better with early diagnosis and treatment. Consult Axis Clinics for expert care and custom rehab plans. They will help you regain function and avoid complications.

Frequently Asked Questions

You feel pain, swelling, and bruising, and you also cannot move the joint easily, after injury; then you have possibly hurt your ligaments. Now you should consider seeing a medical expert for proper diagnosis and treatment in such a case.

However, many minor ligament injuries can heal spontaneously with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E). More severe injuries, however, may need medical attention, either through physical therapy or surgery.

Recovery from ligament injuries depends on the extent of the injury. Mild ones resolve themselves within 2 to 4 weeks, while more moderate and severe cases may take a few months of full recovery time. The healing depends heavily on treatment and rehabilitation.

Although it is not possible to avoid all ligament injuries, prevention can minimize its incidence. Proper warm-up, good footwear, muscle strengthening, and proper performance of sports and physical activities can prevent injuries.

If severe pain or swelling has not subsided, difficult movement of the affected joint, or where it doesn't heal as it is expected to with at-home care, a doctor should be visited. Proper diagnosis and treatment will be provided with prompt medical attention to prevent further complications.

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