Knee and Ankle Sprains: Your Shoes Might Be the Culprit

Most people have experienced sprain at one point in their lives, be it mild or severe . For some milder forms of sprain, it does not significantly affect day-to-day living. However, severe cases can cause severe pain and disability.

A sprain is an injury to a ligament - the connective tissue that joins two bones at a joint. Ligaments provide support to a joint. Sprain occurs when the ligaments are stretched or stressed beyond its normal limit. It may result from a fall, forceful wrenching or twisting of a joint, or a direct blow to the body that forces the joint out of its normal position. Structural joint abnormalities such as having knocked-knees(legs curve inward at the knees) or bowlegs (the leg or legs are bowed outward) also increase the risk of having knee and ankle sprain.

The ankle is the most common site of sprain. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), there are more than 25, 000 individuals who experience ankle sprain in the United States. Common causes include running, sudden turning, and falls while the foot is inverted (the foot is turned inward). Wearing of loosely fit shoes, worn out shoe heels, and high-heeled shoes contribute to the risk of having ankle sprain.

Another common site of sprain is the knee. Knee sprains may occur as a result of a direct blow to the knee joint or twisting the bended knee with the foot firmly planted on the floor. Knee sprains are more common in sports such as foot ball and basketball.

Depending on the severity, sprains may be mild, moderate or severe.

Mild Sprain is caused by over stretching or minimal tear to the ligament. There is little or no loss in joint function but the person may experience minimal pain and swelling. The person usually tolerates the pain upon putting weight on the affected joint.

In moderate sprain, there is further tearing of the ligament but an incomplete one. Signs and symptoms may include moderate pain, bruising, swelling and loss of joint function. The person usually experiences difficulty of bearing weight on the affected joint.