Navigating Twists, Turns Of Ankle Sprains
November 30, 2020
Henry Ford Health System
Oh, how the ankle turns! If you’ve had a misstep or wrong turn result in a sprained ankle, you know how painful this injury can be. Henry Ford podiatric surgeon Paul Di Liddo, DPM, discusses ankle sprains and treatments.
Ankle Injury 101
From risk factors to treatments (and nearly everything in between), here’s what to know — and do — about ankle sprains.
Sprained Ankles Are Painfully Common
In fact, they’re among the most frequent injuries in the United States, with up to 25,000 people per day spraining their ankles. Although often associated with sports, ankle sprains can happen to anyone, anywhere. “I see ankle sprains from tripping over curbs, stepping in holes in a yard or simply walking,” says Dr. Di Liddo. “Ankle sprains — like accidents — happen.”
Ankle Sprains Injure Ligaments
“Ankle sprains occur when the ankle suddenly and forcefully twists or rolls past a point that the ankle ligaments can tolerate,” remarks Dr. Di Liddo. “The ankle ligaments will stretch or tear, either partially or completely.” An ankle can twist, turn or roll during a fall, jump or change of direction, while walking on uneven ground and more.
A Weak Ankle Is A Vulnerable Ankle
Most sprained ankles heal without long-term concern. In some cases, however, ligaments may not fully heal, resulting in a weak or unstable ankle. “A weak or unstable ankle can make an individual more susceptible to repeated ankle sprains,” explains Dr. Di Liddo.
High Arches Can Be Risky Business
People who have high-arched feet are more at risk of rolling — and therefore spraining — their ankles. So are people who have “loose joints,” because the ankle can overstretch with a seemingly minor twist. People who are at-risk for ankle sprains should take extra precautions when playing sports or performing other activities.
Some Sprains Can Be Treated At Home — Emphasis On Some
How you treat a sprained ankle depends on the severity of the injury. Minor sprains can be treated at home with the RICE method. The RICE method include:
- Rest by avoiding use of the injured ankle
- Ice applied to the ankle (without touching the skin) for no more than 20 minutes every three to four hours
- Compression with an elastic bandage
- Elevation above the heart
Ice, compress and elevate your ankle for the first few days. Rest and refrain from sports until ankle pain and swelling have subsided.
At-home treatments aren’t right for everyone — or every ankle injury. “A swollen ankle is typical if you have experienced a sprain,” says Dr. Di Liddo. “However, if you have severe ankle swelling, are in extreme pain or notice an odd ankle appearance, seek medical attention.” This is also true if you can’t walk more than a few steps or have limited ankle mobility. A foot and ankle specialist can diagnose your injury and begin treatment.
Ankle Treatments Abound
Ankle sprain treatments are designed to decrease pain and swelling, while protecting the ligaments from further injury. Treatments include wearing an ankle brace, walking boot or cast. Physical therapy to strengthen the ankle and maintain range of motion may also be incorporated after the ligaments have started to heal.
“Of course, for more severe injuries, a thorough physical exam and X-rays are necessary,” says Dr. Di Liddo. “This helps ensure that there is no other underlying injury, such as a fractured ankle or Achilles tendon rupture.”
Healing Times Vary
The recovery time for a sprained ankle depends on the severity of the injury. Sprains with minimal ligament stretching and no tear require one to three weeks. Partially torn ankle ligaments may take up to six to eight weeks to heal. A fully torn ligament can take several months to fully heal.
What To Do When Ankle Problems Persist
For people who continue to experience ankle instability, there are a host of options. “Physical therapy is the first step — but not the only one,” says Dr. Di Liddo. “If physical therapy has not been beneficial, we can discuss surgical approaches.”
Surgical options include:
- Ligament repair or reinforcement via an outpatient procedure
- Osteotomy, which is surgical cutting of bone, to lower arches when ankle instability is caused by high arches
For those with frequent ankle sprains or instability, a medical assessment is necessary and may include:
- Physical exam
- X-rays to assess bones and joints
- MRI to evaluate ankle ligaments
With this information in mind, you can prevent — or address — the twists and turns of ankle sprains.
Want to learn more? Henry Ford Health System sports medicine experts are treating the whole athlete, in a whole new way. From nutrition to neurology, and from injury prevention to treatment of sports-related conditions, they can give your athlete a unique game plan.
Visit henryford.com/sports or call (313) 972-4216 for an appointment within 24 business hours.
Lee Takes Key Steps in Heart Safety with AED Purchase, CPR Training for All Athletes
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
December 30, 2025
WYOMING – Tom DeGennaro never felt the typical dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea associated with the attack before he simply fell over in his Wyoming Lee classroom seven years ago.
His students moved quickly to help him, but within minutes, DeGennaro, one day past his 53rd birthday, was dead.
"Literally dead on the floor," DeGennaro said. "Just nothing there."
DeGennaro suffered an aneurysm, a bleeding of the brain which caused a subarachnoid hemorrhage or ventricular fibrillation which led to cardiac arrest. Fortunately, paramedics swiftly arrived at the school and with the help of an automated external defibrillator (AED), shocked DeGennaro back to life. Six months later DeGennaro, a former football and track coach at four West Michigan high schools, awoke from a coma.
"I was talking to the kids, then I just flopped over and started convulsing," DeGennaro said of his only recollection of the event.
It was an incident which stuck with Wyoming Lee cross country and track coach Greg Popma, who had coached under DeGennaro at Lee for many years. The more Popma saw overweight and obviously out-of-shape spectators huffing and puffing to make it to different points of a three-mile cross country course, the more it bothered him that real tragedy at a meet was only a heartbeat away.
So Popma did something about it.
With the help of a grant from the American Heart Association, Popma organized the purchase of an AED to be kept at all Legends sporting events. Sure, all Wyoming Lee school buildings already had an AED, but Popma worried that in a medical emergency such as a heart attack, minutes counted. Popma wasn't completely sold on the idea that an AED could be rushed to a nearby cross country course, softball field or tennis court in time to fend off disaster. Now an AED is kept at the ready disposal of a Wyoming Lee trainer.
Popma admits the odds of ever needing an AED at a cross country meet or any other sporting event are low. But he isn't willing to just accept low odds.
Instead of letting a near-tragedy to his coaching partner and friend just slide into memory, Popma chose to act.
"It made me think a little that something like that could happen at any time," Popma said of DeGennaro's experience. "It's not only about the kids, but about parents and others who probably shouldn't be running or going from place to place at a cross country meet. We needed to have something there."
While MHSAA guidelines require all head coaches at member high schools and middle schools to be CPR certified (with that certification usually including AED training), Popma took the training a step farther. With the help of Wyoming Lee teacher Mike Donovan, all athletes from 15 Lee teams have been trained and certified in the usage of CPR.
Popma said he's seen AEDs at countless cross country and track meets over 25 years of coaching. Most are easily within reach at the organizational tent at meets. And while he's never witnessed a heart attack at an event, Popma knows of a father dying at a Legends baseball game, and he's also old enough to remember 28-year-old Detroit Lions receiver Chuck Hughes dying on the field at Tiger Stadium in 1971 due to a heart attack.
To do nothing and hope for the best is not a plan, Popma said.
"I hope people understand, what good is it if you don't have an AED?" he said. "Obviously you can't have 100 percent certainty if you don't make the attempt. The response has been positive. Coaches think it's a good idea. It's like, 'Oh, I never thought of that.'"
DeGennaro is recovered from his heart attack, but in the last seven years figures he's been shocked over 90 times by the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in his chest. DeGennaro is honored that his experience sparked safety improvements at Wyoming Lee.
"Love it," he said. "Even at professional events these things can happen. AEDs need to be at every place, every sporting event and not just for the kids. For the adults, too.
"Nothing is 100 percent. You bring band-aids to games and never get cut, right? There needs to be preparation for something like a heart attack. I have two goals in life now. Spreading the word of Christ and getting people to learn about CPR."
PHOTO Wyoming Lee cross country/track coach Greg Popma carries his school’s portable AED that is brought to school sporting events. (Photo by Steve Vedder.)