No one is immune from various kinds of injuries or damage. In most cases, the ligaments of the joints, for example, the feet, suffer, because it is the lower limbs that account for the bulk of the load. Torn ligaments in the foot are considered the most common injury that can occur at any time - during an unsuccessful jump, while running or walking on a slippery surface. What to do in such a situation and how to provide first aid.
How breakup happens
Rupture of the ligaments of the foot (partial or complete violation of the integrity of the tendons) is the most common injury of the ankle joint, which occurs in 15% of all cases and is almost always accompanied by subluxation. Since it is this department of the musculoskeletal system that takes on the greatest load when walking, jumping and running, damage, as well as rupture of the soft tissues and tendons of the ankle, is the most complex injury that requires long-term therapy and a fairly longrehabilitation.
Anatomically, the foot consists of 26 bones, 2 of which form the joint. The connection occurs with the help of ligaments with special strength. In addition, the soft tissues of the foot are much more elastic than all other muscles in the human body, due to their constant development during movement.
The ankle joint is formed from three types of ligaments: anterior and posterior talus-fibular and calcaneal fibular. Their main task is to fix the leg bone in a static position during physical exertion. These ligaments run along the lateral part of the ankle, and on the inside there is a two-layer collateral ligament, thanks to which the foot does not move from side to side during movement. A torn ligament in the foot always occurs in the lateral part of the ankle. There are several types of such an injury, differentiated by the degree of deformation of muscle fibers:
- First degree - sprain. Diagnosed with damage to the smallest number of muscles and tendons.
- Second degree - determined when the ligaments remain functional, but a large number of muscle fibers are damaged.
- Third degree - the most difficult condition, characterized by a complete rupture of all ligaments, tendons and fibers.
Sometimes an ankle injury leads to a complete separation of all muscle fibers from the place of attachment of the ligaments, which leads to complete immobility. A ligament tear in the foot cannot be shown in the photo, but an x-ray can give a clear picture.
Symptomatic manifestations
Partial or complete rupture of the ligaments of the foot always have the same symptoms, and the degree of their manifestation depends on the type of injury. If stretching and microtrauma occur, a person may feel slight pain during movement, sometimes redness in the joint area. The second degree of pathology is accompanied by stronger painful sensations and limits the movement of a person, as there is a rather serious injury to the muscle fibers.
In the third degree, the joint swells from the outside, hematomas and even bruises appear in the shin area, and the local temperature rises. Severe pain indicates a complete rupture of the ankle ligaments, and the joint completely loses its performance. The symptoms of torn ligaments in the foot are somewhat similar to other ankle injuries, so such injuries are often mistaken for a fracture.
Painful sensations in pathology are growing. When the limb is immobile, they become less intense, and when moving, they increase.
Causes of pathology
Most injuries happen in the home. Unfortunate subluxation of the foot (when walking or descending stairs, for example) can lead to rupture of not only tissues, but also tendons. Often the person does not feel the damage (the pain is mild and passes quickly). This can be explained by the elasticity of the ankle tissues. But a sedentary lifestyle worsens the properties of ligaments and tendons, so any careless movement forpeople end in injury. The same problem occurs in the elderly, as natural aging of the musculoskeletal system occurs over time.
In addition, the risk group includes:
- Women who wear high heels.
- Overweight people.
- Athletes (especially those with various lower limb injuries in the past).
- Patients with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system (for example, flat feet).
Rupture of the ligaments of the foot, like any other disease, is easier to prevent than to treat, so each person must take precautions: walk carefully on uneven or slippery roads, wear only comfortable shoes, evenly distribute physical activity, monitor your weight and timely treat systemic diseases.
Diagnosis of pathology
In some cases, these injuries are not accompanied by obvious symptoms. The factor indicating a rupture of the ligaments is only a feeling of instability and incorrect position of the joint. If even a slight tear of muscle fibers occurs, diagnosis is necessary, since such injuries are quite insidious and require long-term treatment.
If the ligaments are torn, you should immediately consult a doctor to provide first aid to the victim. The effectiveness of therapy directly depends on the timely and correct diagnosis. To diagnose such injuries, the doctor examines the affected limb of the patient, and also prescribes ultrasound, radiography (onX-ray can distinguish ligament rupture from sprain) and MRI (the exact volume of affected tissues is revealed). These studies help to accurately diagnose, determine the size of the damage and exclude concomitant injuries. The duration of treatment and the recovery period directly depend on the degree of the injury.
First aid for torn foot ligaments
First aid to the victim is provided in the same way as with a severe bruise. The injured limb is completely freed from shoes, socks (since the injury is accompanied by swelling, tightening the affected surface will only increase pain). A cold compress is applied to the sprain site, which must be kept until the arrival of the doctors.
The foot must be still. To prevent the spread of swelling, it is advisable to place the damaged foot on a hill. For this purpose, you can use a pillow or a homemade roller.
Usually, mild ankle injuries go away on their own and without consequences, so they do not require the intervention of specialists. You should immediately contact a traumatologist if the following symptoms are present:
- Impaired joint stability.
- Bone deformity.
- Severe bouts of pain when trying to step on the affected limb persist for several days.
- Swelling and bleeding.
- Numbness of the foot.
What not to do when injured
In addition to first aid measures for rupture of ligaments, it is necessaryalso know what is strictly forbidden to do:
- In the first few days after injury, heat and massage are contraindicated, as blood circulation is activated and swelling increases (warm water can even provoke the development of inflammation).
- You should not overcome the pain and continue to play sports, as this leads to additional damage to the joint and aggravates the existing injury.
- Rest is necessary for the injured joint, but a prolonged lack of movement is also contraindicated. Therefore, on the third or fourth day after the injury, it is necessary to begin to restore the activity of the ankle.
Principles of Therapy
How to treat a ligament tear in the foot? There is a certain system that includes the following activities:
- Protection of the affected joint.
- Drug treatment.
- Therapeutic restorative gymnastics.
- Rehabilitation activities.
In case of severe pain accompanying a torn ligament, the patient is prescribed painkillers to be taken orally, as well as special ointments and gels. Additionally, patients take anti-inflammatory and decongestants. In cases where the conservative therapy does not bring the expected effect, as well as in case of an ankle injury of the third degree, there is a need for surgical intervention.
Surgical measures are aimed at stitching torn ligaments and muscle fibers. If blood accumulates in the joint, a puncture is performed.
Folk treatments
Treatment of torn ligaments of the foot with folk remedies is based on the use of compresses from grated raw potatoes, a mixture of onions with sugar, burdock or elderberry leaves. These funds are applied to the injured limb in the affected area.
In chronic injuries, treatment is based on warming up the diseased joint. To do this, use alcohol compresses or heated sand placed in a canvas bag.
Complications of sprains
The consequences of torn ligaments of the foot (if not treated) can be quite serious - from suppuration, blood poisoning to lameness. In addition to the fact that a person will limp for the rest of his life, all his movements will be accompanied by painful sensations in the damaged joint.
Recovery period
Patients are always interested in how long a torn foot ligament heals. The recovery period takes several weeks, and in case of severe damage - up to six months. Complete healing is impossible without additional physiotherapeutic procedures (UHF, magnetotherapy, paraffin treatment) and a course of exercise therapy. It is also necessary to gradually increase the load on the injured ankle, starting with the toes. Within a week after the injury, the joint must be actively developed, using all ligaments and tendons.
Prevention of pathology
The prevention of such injuries is to follow safety rules and possibly avoid damage. Aftertorn or sprained ligaments, you should not endure pain or treat the leg yourself. It is advisable to consult a traumatologist, undergo the necessary course of treatment and rehabilitation.
