Do you often sprain your ankle? Let's learn more about these ligaments!

It's hard to find someone who hasn't sprained their ankle at least once in their life, right? It's that pain that makes you suddenly bend your leg to the side and scream "Ouch!" while walking, climbing stairs, or playing sports. Most of the time, we call this a "sprained ankle." But what actually happens inside our ankle when we sprain it? The main part responsible for it is the ligaments of the ankle. Today, we're going to talk about these amazing ligaments that secretly help you walk, run, and jump.

Simply put, what are these ankle ligaments?

Think of the bones in your ankle as being like the poles of a tent. To keep these poles together and strong enough to hold them in place, you need to tie them together with strong ropes, right? That's what ligaments are like. They're like strong, slightly stretchy bands or ropes. Their main job is to connect the two bones in your lower leg (the tibia and fibula) to the bones in your foot (the talus and calcaneus), keeping them together.

Without these ligaments, you wouldn't be able to stand, walk, or run. Because the bones aren't fixed in one place. These ligaments absorb the shock from the ground and stabilize the ankle joint when you walk or run. They are also the most important protectors that prevent your ankle from twisting or rolling. Therefore, if you experience ankle pain, it's important to see your doctor right away to find the cause and get treatment.

How many ligaments are there in our ankle? Where are they located?

There are three main groups of ligaments in your ankle. Each of these surrounds different parts of the ankle and helps your body move properly. Let's break them down clearly.

What is this ligament made of?

These are not just any bands. They are made of very strong connective tissue. They mainly contain:

• Collagen: This is a glue-like protein that holds our body's tissues together. This is what gives ligaments their great strength.
• Elastic fibers: These give ligaments some elasticity, like a rubber band. But if stretched too much, they can tear.

Can ankle ligaments be damaged? How?

Yes, it definitely can. If a ligament is stretched beyond its limits, bent, or moved in the wrong direction, it can become damaged. This is what we medically call a "sprain," or as we commonly call it, a "sprain."

Think about situations like these. These are things that happen a lot in our daily lives.

• Falling into a pothole on the road: This is very common with the condition of the roads in our country. Suddenly, a foot can fall into a pothole and roll the ankle in or out.
• When getting off a bus or stairs: If you can't land properly, your leg can bend to the side and strain the ligaments.
• When playing sports: Ligaments are more likely to be damaged, especially in sports that involve rapid changes of direction, such as basketball, soccer, and volleyball.
• Wearing high heels: Women who wear high heels have less stability in their ankles, which increases the risk of sprains.
• Someone stepping on your foot: If someone steps on your foot during a situation like playing sports, your ankle can bend unnaturally.

In this case, the ligament fibers may be slightly torn (mild sprain), torn in half (moderate sprain), or completely torn (severe sprain). Sometimes, a "pop" sound can be heard when the ligament tears.

How can a doctor know exactly if I have damaged a ligament?

If you have pain or swelling in your ankle, the best thing to do is to see a doctor. It's more important to find out exactly what's wrong than just going to the village doctor and applying some ointment. A doctor will examine you in this way:

1. They will ask you details: How did the accident happen? When did it start? What was the pain like? Did you hear a "click" sound? They will get a rough idea of ​​the problem by asking you things like that.

2. Physical Exam:

• We will carefully examine your injured ankle. We will check for swelling and bruising.
• I carefully examine my ankles to find exactly where it hurts the most.
• Rotate the ankle back and forth to see which movement causes the pain to increase.
• I'm comparing it to your other healthy ankle.

3. X-ray: You may be asked to take an X-ray to determine if there is damage to a ligament or a fracture of a bone.

4. Other tests: If the pain persists, or if there is a suspicion that the ligament is completely torn, you may be referred for something like an MRI scan. An MRI can very clearly see the damage to soft tissues such as ligaments and cartilage.

How can we protect our ankle ligaments from such accidents?

While we can't prevent every accident, there are many things we can do to keep our ankle ligaments strong and reduce the risk of injury. This is especially important if you're an athlete.

• Drive carefully: Be careful of your footing when driving on uneven, potholed roads.
• Increase Flexibility and Balance: This is very important. If your body balance is good, even if your foot suddenly gets stuck, your body will respond quickly and reduce the pressure on your ankle. It is good to do regular stretching exercises and practice standing on one leg.
• Do ankle strengthening exercises: Exercises like heel raises, squats, and lunges strengthen the muscles around the ankle, which reduces the pressure on the ligaments.
• Control your weight: As your body weight increases, the pressure on your ankles increases. Therefore, it is very important to maintain a healthy weight.
• Before and after exercise: Warm up well before any exercise or sport. Then gradually increase the intensity of the exercise. Stretch well after exercise.
• Wear shoes that fit properly: Wear a pair of shoes that fit your feet well and provide good ankle support. Don't run or play sports in old, worn-out shoes.

We don't usually think much about our ankle ligaments, but now you probably understand how important they are to our bodies. Therefore, it is our duty to take care of them. If you have persistent pain, swelling, or difficulty walking in your ankle, don't ignore it and see a doctor immediately. He or she will prescribe the necessary treatment and help you stand strong on your own two feet again.