This is your chance to have a certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) at your service! Having access to Athletic Trainers and the training rooms that they work in are one of the perks of being a competitive athlete. They have immediate access to injury prevention, evaluation and treatment.
Most of us are on our own out there, kicking butt in the gym, on the road or at home. When we suffer aches, pains and injuries, we don't always have many resources! While athletic trainers are not a substitute for a doctor, they have tons of valuable information when it comes to rehabbing your injuries at home. They are also great at explaining more medical terms to normal people like you and me! I love to know the science behind how my body works (or isn't working!) and I've found the athletic trainers are great at educating about these topics.
Today we meet Annie Lopez, a full time athletic trainer at Colorado State University. She works primarily with women's basketball and women's golf, with secondary oversight with women's soccer, softball, cheer and poms. She's going to share some info today about ankle sprains!
Most of us are on our own out there, kicking butt in the gym, on the road or at home. When we suffer aches, pains and injuries, we don't always have many resources! While athletic trainers are not a substitute for a doctor, they have tons of valuable information when it comes to rehabbing your injuries at home. They are also great at explaining more medical terms to normal people like you and me! I love to know the science behind how my body works (or isn't working!) and I've found the athletic trainers are great at educating about these topics.
Today we meet Annie Lopez, a full time athletic trainer at Colorado State University. She works primarily with women's basketball and women's golf, with secondary oversight with women's soccer, softball, cheer and poms. She's going to share some info today about ankle sprains!
Annie's Bio
I received my undergraduate degree from Iowa State University…Go Cyclones! I spent a year in New Orleans, LA at Tulane University, and I got my master’s degree at Purdue University. I was born and raised in Iowa and it is a great place to be from, but I fell in love with Colorado and have been here for 6 ½ years now. I originally got into Athletic Training when I sustained a knee injury in high school. Shortly after that I started working with my high school athletic trainer and longtime mentor. I quickly figured out in college that the crazy busy never dull life of an athletic trainer was for me! I enjoy working with motivated athletes and getting to watch young men and women grow through their careers as Rams. When I am not working I enjoy spending time with my wonderful fiancé Brian! I enjoy being active and I really enjoy running, yoga, strength training, and I have even been known to push some prowlers and flip tires for physical activity. I have run a few half marathons, but I think races like 10Ks and 5Ks are more my style, as dedicating time to training can be a struggle. I enjoy traveling and luckily with my job I get to see a lot of the U.S. and college campuses, and I hope one day to get to do some worldly travel with the man in my life.
Ask the ATC - Ankle Sprains
Help! I sprained my ankle on uneven ground while running last weekend. I finished my run, but a week later it’s still bugging me! It’s a little swollen and it hurts the most when I push off of my toes or try to circle it around.”
What is actually happening in my ankle when I get a sprain?
Annie: Most ankle sprains occur due to excessive supination or inversion of the foot and ankle, causing trauma or partial tearing of the lateral (outside of ankle) ligaments. Secondary injuries can also occur including a strain of the Peroneal muscle tendons, and a bruise or impingement of the Deltoid ligament on the inside (medial aspect) of the ankle. For runners, this type of injury can occur with individuals who have a higher arch and tend to strike the ground with the outside edges of their foot. Also when pushing off on the toes, the ankle is in the predisposed supinated position. Pain will be experienced under and around the ankle bone (lateral malleolus). Swelling and bruising can also be experienced. Sometimes you can even hear or feel a “pop” when the injury occurs.
http://anklepain.info/
ligaments | tendons http://www.eorthopod.com/ |
How do I know if I need to go to the doctor?
Annie: If after a week you have shown little to no improvement, it is probably time to seek out the experts. If you cannot fully bear weight on your ankle, or you are still walking with a limp there may be more going on. Or your pain has localized especially on the bone, you want to be sure to rule out more serious injury. Sometimes a fracture can occur at the Lateral Malleolus, or the ligaments can avulse or tear away from the bone. These injuries can require more specific care like a short period of immobilization.
It really hurts! How can I reduce the pain?
Annie: I am sure you have all heard the acronym R.I.C.E. Rest, ice, compression, elevation. These things will help control excessive swelling in the ankle. They will also help reduce pain. Also, your over the counter pain relievers like Advil, Tylenol, and Aleve are all good options to help with pain and swelling. But make sure not to overdo it with the medications because pain and swelling are our bodies ways of telling us something is going on and not to ignore it.
Thanks Annie - and be sure to check back TOMORROW for more info about keeping your fitness level up with an ankle injury and ways to rehab an ankle sprain at home!
Disclaimer: Please remember I am not a doctor or certified medical professional. My hope is to provide information from other experts to help my readers. As always, do not treat this as medical advice, and consult your doctor with any injuries, concerns or for a diagnoses.
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