High Ankle Sprain: An Interview with a Ligament

We’re here today at Fairfax County’s Clifton Foot & Ankle Center, where Joe Patient has just arrived for his appointment with board-certified podiatrist Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm. Dr. Wilhelm has obtained an exclusive interview with the source of Mr. Patient’s problem, a torn ligament high atop his ankle joint.

Dr. Wilhelm: Good morning, Ms. Ligament. Explain to our listeners what you do and how your injury occurred.

Ms. Ligament: Thank you for having me. My particular job is pretty specialized. A ligament’s day-to-day function is to form a connection between two bones. I’m located high in Joe’s ankle at the base of the tibia and fibula bones. When he stands up and walks, those two bones spread apart – which is normal, but I’m here to ensure the bones don’t spread too far apart.

Dr. Wilhelm: Sounds stressful! Would you say you’re somehow different from other lower ankle ligaments?

Ms. Ligament: My fellow ankle ligaments work together to keep the joint stable, but I guess you could say I’m more of a shock absorber than the lower ligaments. We’re all being stretched, and any one of us can get a sprain. 

Dr. Wilhelm: Right, right. So, tell us what caused your injury.

Ms. Ligament: Ok, well, Joe was playing basketball, and he jumped up for this amazing center-court shot – which he made, by the way, two points for our team! But he landed really hard. The force was just too much for me to take. I tried to hang on, do my job, you know? But I couldn’t, and unfortunately, I got torn. By the way, the same thing just happened to the high ankle ligaments in Mac Jones’s ankle – the Patriots’ quarterback? Talk about a traumatic injury, being tackled by a 300-pound body. That had to have hurt.

Dr. Wilhelm: Yeah, definite “ouch.” So, will it take long for you to heal?

Ms. Ligament: Probably. As you know, a high ankle sprain usually keeps someone laid up for quite a while. Joe will probably wear a walking boot for several weeks so that I’ve got a chance to rest and repair. I’m guessing that you’ll prescribe physical therapy. I hope he follows through with that. PT is the best! It really makes me feel strong and healthy again.

That was Ms. Ligament, the source of Joe Patient’s high ankle sprain, to be confirmed and treated here at this Centreville podiatry office. For expert treatment of torn ligaments and all other foot and ankle ailments, call (703) 996-3000 or make an appointment online.