There are three main groups of ligaments that provide support for your ankle joint. There are the four medial ligaments positioned on the inside of your ankle, the set of four syndesmotic ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula, and the three lateral ligaments positioned on the outside of your ankle. These three lateral ligaments make up the lateral collateral complex of the ankle and are designed to resist inversion (inward turning) of the ankle joint.
The three ligaments that make up the lateral collateral complex are the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) and the posterior talofibular (PTFL), and they are typically injured in this order during an inversion sprain. Of the three ligaments that comprise the lateral collateral complex, the ATFL is the weakest of the ligaments. In roughly 70 percent of inversion ankle sprains, this is the only ligament damaged.
In today’s blog, we take a closer look at ATFL sprains and how they can be effectively treated.
Anterior Talofibular Ligament Sprains
As we mentioned above, ATFL sprains occur when your ankle rolls inward, which puts extra stress on the lateral ankle ligaments on the outside of the ankle joint. If you step on uneven ground or land on an opponent’s foot during a soccer match, it’s not uncommon for this mechanism of planter flexion and inversion to be met with strain on the anterior talofibular ligament.
Symptoms of an ATFL sprain include:
- Localized ankle pain
- Swelling
- Difficulty or the inability to bear weight on the ankle
- Stiffness
- Decreased strength
- Decreased flexibility
- Feelings of unsteadiness or looseness in the ankle joint
Diagnosing And Treating ATFL Sprains
If you have rolled or sprained your ankle and you believe you may be dealing with an ATFL injury, you have a few different treatment paths you can take. For starters, if symptoms are moderate or severe in nature, consider heading to your primary care physician, a foot and ankle specialist or an urgent care department. They will begin by asking about your symptoms and the mechanism of injury, and then they’ll conduct a physical assessment. If they believe it necessary, they may also order an X-ray to look any signs of a fracture.
If a sprain has been diagnosed, they’ll likely set you up with a course of conservative treatment. This typically involves rest and strenuous activity avoidance for a couple of weeks to allow healing to begin. You may also be placed in a cast or walking boot during this time to ensure you don’t continue to strain the ankle as the ligaments are working to heal. Over-the-counter medications to help with pain and swelling are helpful during this time, as are ice and elevation a few times throughout the day.
These techniques, coupled with time, will help to dull symptoms, but if you really want to get back to full strength, eventually you’ll need to begin a physical therapy routine. These careful exercise will strengthen the ligaments so that they can safely get back to the point where they can comfortably handle the strain you throw at them during physical activity. A few weeks of physical therapy tends to help athletes get back to full strength and regain that trust in their ankles that they’ll need during competition.
You can pursue these conservative techniques on your own instead of connecting with a foot specialist if your symptoms are minor, but just make sure you are committing to a rehab plan. If you’re intent on going about your day like normal, the ATFL will not fully heal, and that will leave you susceptible to more ankle sprains down the road.
If you’re truly committed to putting the anterior talofibular ligament sprain behind you, connect with a specialist like Dr. Silverman. He can help set you up with a rehabilitation plan tailored to your specific needs. For more information, or for help with a different ankle issue, give our clinic a call today at (952) 224-8500.
